Observing the World Malaria Day on Tuesday, Godrej Consumer Products limited (GCPl) announced the second phase of its project ‘EMBED’. The projects aims to create malaria free India by 2030.
It is to be noted that in April 2016, GCPl commissioned a project on the elimination of mosquito borne endemic diseases (EMBED), which aims to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by vector borne diseases.
On Tuesday Vikas Goswami, Head- Good and Green, Godrej Industries limited, Sunil Kataria Business Head India and SAARC, GCPl, Vivek Gambhir, MD GCPl, Pallavi Jain Govil, Health Commissioner, Sharad Malhotra Director, Family Health India announced the project in 9 districts of Madhya Pradesh.
On the occasion, Gouri Singh, Principal Secretary Public Health and Family Welfare Department was also present.
The project focuses on improving the knowledge and awareness of communities through behaviour change campaigns and empowering communities. The project is associated with National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016-2030 and government on environmental management and vector control activities as part of Swachh Bharat.
Informing about the project, Vivek Gambhir said, “As a company, Godrej has always actively championed social responsibility. The idea is to link business success with social progress.”
In its first phase, EMBED covered Mandla and Dindori districts in State. In its second phase the project has reached 3,000 villages, 7 lakh households and 35, 00,000 people across 9 districts in Madhya Pradesh, he added. “We have now targeted 7 districts Jhabua, Sheopur, Shivpuri, Sidhi, Singrauli, Alirajpur and Balaghat and aim to cover over 2500 villages across these areas,” he informed.
Vikas Goswami said, “EMBED currently addresses 36% of the malaria burden in State and has recorded a 2% increase in testing for malaria in the pilot districts of Mandla and Dindori.”
Under the campaign, a slogan and painting competition was also organized for the school students in these districts. The winners of the competition were also felicitated on the occasion.