In order the achieve the goal of Malaria free –Tripura by 2027, the Health department of the state government has taken massive initiative to control the outbreak of vector borne disease in the present rainy season and started distribution of free mosquito nets and steps for house-to house testing.

On Friday, the Secretary of Health department Kiran Gitte along other top officials of department and National Health Mission (NHM) visited Hezamara primary health centre (PHC) under West Tripura district and launched the free distribution of medicated mosquito nets among the villagers and house-to-house testing with kits and free medicines for 14-day course, if any positive case detected.

Later, Gitte speaking with media persons said that under National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), which has been continuing across Tripura, the state government has fixed a target of Malaria elimination goal by 2027 and the entire country has fixed the target of Malaria free by 2030.

He said that the Health department has directed the health department officials to work on a mission mode to control malaria and asked to intensify campaigning programs to increase awareness among people about malaria.

The Health Department took measures to prevent malaria in the state and MPWs and ASHA workers were trained to prevent malaria at the village level.

Gitte said that the hilly hard terrain, hot and humid weather of the state is one of the causes of malaria in the state and till date, the state has 126 panchayats and village committees (VCs) as ‘endemic malaria zone’, where have about 3 lakh population in 600 to 700 habitants .

The department will conduct house to house malaria detection step through kits and all ASHA and other health workers engaged in the mission have been equipped with free 14-days medicine if they detect any positive case, said Gitte.

“The Health Department is working on malaria control plans in different parts of the state including hilly areas with all these issues in mind. Work is underway to distribute 9.5 lakh medicated mosquito nets in the remote areas and malaria endemic areas. Initiatives have been taken to release Larvivorous fish in various reservoirs to prevent the spread of mosquitoes”, said Gitte.

The health secretary said that regular health camps are being organized to make the people of the remote areas of the state aware of the causes and effects of malaria.

He said that last year, a total of 22,000 positive cases were detected and among the positive cases, about 14,000 cases of Malaria were only detected from Dhalai district.

In the past three years, the casualties for Malaria came down at single digit, whereas the state with the highest number of casualties for Malaria was 84 in the year 2014 last, said Gitte.

The health secretary said that regular health camps are being organized to make the people of the remote areas of the state aware of the causes and effects of malaria.

The official further informed that regular meetings are being held with various government departments and NGOs at each district, sub-division, and block level for malaria eradication. Also, emphasis is placed on regular blood testing of Jhum farmers and training of community health officers.

During the camp, director of the National Health Mission (NHM)  Vinay Bhushan Das and the officials of the department were present.