The Hindu : 11 wards identified for anti-malaria drive

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 17, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

11 wards identified for anti-malaria drive

By Karthik Subramanian

CHENNAI July 16. Eleven Corporation wards, scattered mainly in North Chennai, have been identified by the health department of the civic agency for its proposed anti-malaria drive.

Among the areas chosen for the drive is Division 50 (Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar), which has the highest malaria prevalence rate in excess of 50 per thousand population. Divisions 44 (Perumal Koil Thottam), 48 (Elephant Gate) and 49 (Flower Bazaar), all falling under Zone III have a prevalence rate between 21 and 50. Apart from this, seven other wards with a prevalence rate in order of 11 to 20 would be covered.

Though there have several such campaigns in the past, Corporation officials say this will be the first time malaria will be treated as a ``behavioural'' disease.

``The idea is to create an impression among public that malaria is caused by their own behavioural attitude,'' said health officer (in-charge) G. T. Thangaraj.

The Corporation's ``Malaria-free Chennai'' project has already been approved by the State-level Task Force Committee. The civic officials are currently coordinating with the Department of Public Health to give the project its final form. This will include mobilisation and training of more than 700 volunteers to cover 3 lakh persons in 60,000 households of the identified wards.

The project, likely to be launched this September, will have extensive awareness campaign, including street plays. Public would be told about the importance of elimination of ``breeding points'' through removal of open reservoirs. This will ultimately cut down transmission of the disease.

There has been a steady decline in the number of malarial cases reported in the city from 76,749 in 1993 to 26,652 in 2001. Importantly, the incidence of the falciparum malarial cases has declined.

During 1991 and 1992, as many as 8,000 falciparum cases were reported in the civic and government hospitals. Last year, 623 falciparum cases were reported. This year, 540 cases have been reported till May.

Malarial cases apart, health officials also keep a vigil over the incidence of dengue. The outbreak in 2001 had resulted in 737 cases, whereas during 1999 and 2000 there were less than 100 cases.

Aedes aegypti mosquito causes the disease.

Both the Anopheles and the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes breed in unapproachable overhead tanks and open water sources in locked houses _ sources that are freely available in North Chennai. Interestingly, the Southern parts of the city, including Saidapet, have been marked as low risk areas now.

The project, expected to start this September, will extend for over four months to ensure maximum coverage.

``Usually September and ensuing months are endemic for malaria. The project would also give us an insight into how successful the National Malaria Programme has been,'' said the Deputy Commissioner (Health - incharge), D. P. Yadav.

The impetus for the project was given by the Commissioner, M. Kalaivanan, who announced the project as soon as he took charge.

A project cost of Rs. 40 lakhs has been fixed, and the civic agency hopes to mobilise this through donations from public and corporate sector.

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