Anti-malarial operations are expected to be intensified in Telangana as it embarks on the road to eradication with an early deadline.
Indian Government’s ambitious National Framework for Malaria Elimination was made public earlier this month by the Union Health Ministry. The Centre sought the cooperation of states in ensuring the eradication of the disease by 2030 in the country, but it was learnt that the State Government has said it can do so by 2027. The commitment was made at a meeting of relevant health authorities.
Though many parts of the State have Annual Parasite Index (API) below 2, a level which is desired if the disease has to eradicated, mandals in a few districts including Khammam, Warangal and Kothegudem, have higher levels.
The API is a measure of number of cases in a year. Northern and north-western parts of the State have historically been recognised as high API areas with central and southern parts of the State, including Hyderabad, believed to have a significantly lower disease burden. Up to May 2017, Telangana reported 679 positive malaria cases.
Of a bigger concern than total number of malaria cases, are infections due to Plasmodium Falciparum, the parasite that causes cerebral malaria, a potentially fatal condition. Senior health officials say to achieve this goal, the State Government has a long road to walk. Thus far, Falciparum cases account for more than 80% of the malaria infections in the State, according to Directorate of National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme.
“To achieve this goal, greater awareness is required in the community. The State should also expand its diagnostic capabilities and ensure available of Rapid Detection Tests at the lowest level of healthcare,” said a senior health official.
One of the approaches of the Government to eradicate malaria is through vector control measures, which the official said needs to be strengthened in the State.
“Vector surveillance is the most important step. To eradicate the disease, the vector’s numbers have to be reduced drastically. Measures like Indoor Residual Spray are often not done in a prescribed manner. Not all the rooms in a house are covered. The field staff should ensure that they spray in all rooms to control mosquito,” the official added.
Under the new programme rolled out by the Health Ministry, the strategy to control malaria will be built through five-year plans. As part of the strategy for 2017-22, emphasis is being laid on Telangana and its neighbour Andhra Pradesh, to collect exact figures from its hyper-endemic districts.
