Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: The state government has decided to intensify its malaria eradication programme – Daman – in eight districts, which are prone to the vector-borne disease.
A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi here Monday.
Reviewing the implementation of anti-malaria programmes in state, Padhi directed the officials concerned to intensify ‘Daman’ in eight malaria-prone districts from May this year. He also said the state government would provide the fund for implementation of the scheme.
The districts chosen to be covered under the scheme are: Gajapati, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada and Rayagada. The Annual Parasite Incidence (API) per 1,000 population in these districts is more than 10.
The state has earmarked Rs 25 crore to implement ‘Daman’ in these districts. Services like diagnosis, treatment, intensive mass awareness, behavioural change communication, haemoglobin test, nutrition test, supply of medicines among others will be provided under the scheme.
Padhi also directed health and family welfare department to ensure availability of medicines at primary health centres and community health centres (CHCs) and cautioned the department that no one should be deprived of getting drugs in time.
Health department joint director Madan Mohan Pradhan said the situation in eight costal districts has improved significantly as the API per 1,000 population is less than 1 at these places.
It was decided to move to elimination phase in Puri, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts, while the other five coastal districts – Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, Cuttack and Khurda – would move to pre-elimination phase.
Health department joint secretary Surjit Das said, “Daman is an innovative and integrated approach for control and prevention of malaria. The scheme is being funded by the state government.”
The meeting further decided to set up 25 entomological units in various districts including five municipal corporations to address malaria and other vector-borne diseases including dengue and chikungunya.
The state government would procure 1.52 crore long lasting insecticidal nets from Global Fund for TB, AIDS and Malaria Control within six months to meet the present requirement of the state.
