In the second phase of the campaign, so far 22.34 lakh people have been screened, along with malaria, anemia and malnutrition eradication initiative
Government of India has also appreciated the malaria-free Bastar campaign.
Jagdalpur 29 July 2020. The impact of the malaria-free Bastar campaign has started showing in Bastar division. During the first phase of this year, in January-February, more than 14 lakh people were examined by the Health Department and those who were found to be malaria positive were treated immediately. At that time, 64 thousand 646 (4.60 percent) of the 14 lakh six thousand people examined were found to be malaria victims. There is a significant decrease in the number of people found to be malaria positive during the second phase of the campaign. In the second phase, the target of testing 23 lakh 46 thousand people has been set to include more area and population than before. In this phase, blood of 22 lakh 34 thousand people has been tested so far, which is 95.23 percent of the target. Of these, 1.31 percent i.e. 29 thousand 275 people have been found to be malaria positive.
During the second phase of malaria-free Bastar campaign starting from June 6, the Health Department team has so far investigated malaria in four lakh 71 thousand 879 houses. Meanwhile R.D. Immediate treatment of 29 thousand 275 people found positive by checking blood of 22 lakh 34 thousand people has been started from the kit. Among the people found to be malaria positive, 17 thousand 642 i.e. 60.26 percent are those who did not have any symptoms of malaria. Symptomatic malaria can become a major problem due to not being recognized in time. It also causes anemia and malnutrition. Therefore, timely screening and identification will prove beneficial in eradicating anemia and malnutrition. Of the 15 thousand 593 pregnant women involved in the investigation, 306 were found positive. The second phase of the campaign will run till 31 July.
Along with the investigation and treatment of malaria, people are made aware by the survey team to sleep against it and by applying mosquito nets. Its positive effect has also been seen in Bastar. During the second phase, the Health Department team found the medicated mosquito net given by the department in regular use in four lakh 71 thousand 879 houses. Larvae of mosquitoes were destroyed in 4964 houses by the survey team along with locals.
Dr. Priyanka Shukla, Director of Health and Family Welfare and National Health Mission, has been conducting regular review of remote areas of Bastar with her team and regular weekly video conference through weekly video conference. Nodal officers have also been appointed for each district from the state level, who get updated status of the campaign district-wise and inform the operator. Testing kits and medicines and other necessary resources for the campaign are being provided by the National Health Mission, Chhattisgarh.
Malaria-free Bastar campaign is being conducted in 30 such development blocks of all the seven districts of Bastar division from where 75-80 percent of malaria complaints are received in the state every year. At present, 2804 survey teams in 3226 villages of the region go door-to-door to check blood of all individuals. When malaria is detected, the team members immediately feed the victims the first dose of the medicine in front of them. Regular follow-up of the patients is done by the posted health staff in the village. To keep the patient’s stomach empty while taking the medicine, locally prepared ready-to-eat food items are also fed. Local health workers and Mitannin monitor whether patients are taking full doses of the medicine. Empty wrappers of medicines are also stored from patients for confirmation. To ensure that every household and every person is checked, marking is also done by sticking a sticker in the houses and marking the toe of the tested people.
At present, the Government of India has appreciated the operation of Malaria Free Bastar Campaign in Chhattisgarh amid the outbreak of Kovid-19. This campaign is being implemented under the leadership of Health Secretary Smt. Niharika Barik Singh. Malaria Free Bastar Campaign is proving to be a milestone in the campaign to make Bastar free from malaria as well as anemia and malnutrition.
