Protesting the decision if the ICMR-NIMR to merge the Malaria Research Centre of Rourkela with Ranchi unit, the local BJD under the leadership of senior leader Sudhir Sundar Ray staged demonstration on Wednesday in front of Rourkela field unit office and submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister for his early intervention in the matter to revoke the order at the earliest.
The BJD argued that the tribal dominated mineral rich Sundargarh district consists of undulating uplands intersected by forested hills, rocky streams, rivers, springs and paddy fields in the valleys. Though the Central Government gets huge revenue from the district but the district remains undeveloped so far as health services are concerned.Sources said malaria is a major public health problem in Odisha which contribute highest number of malaria cases.
Tribal areas of the State such as Sundargarh district are the most seriously affected regions where malaria exists in endemic form. P. falciparum is the major cause of malaria and accounts for 80-90% malaria cases in the tribal areas of the State, which have distinct ecological features such as hilly terrain, forest fringe and forested area or foothill ecosystems where all the malariogenic factors operate at their maximum efficiency. Malaria is clearly one of the major health problems in the region and is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality.
So, keeping it in view, a Field Unit of Malaria Research Centre at Rourkela was established in 1988 with the objectives to conduct applied field research on malaria, develop and demonstrate appropriate disease vector control methods, study socio-economic aspects of malaria with particular reference to sustainability of interventions developed and facilitate transfer of technology to users. Sources further said since then this organisation has diligently been working in the Sundargarh district to aware the people to combat malaria. Besides research work, it has been playing a key role in motivating the people for using of insecticide treated nets and consuming medicines especially in the rural pockets. Due to timely intervention the impact of malaria has been curbed in the district exceptionally. So, with the intervention of Malaria Research Centre, Rourkela Field Unit many valuable lives are saved in Sundargarh district in past years. The data says every month more than 10k samples are collected by the unit from different areas of Sundargarh and its adjacent localities. The BJD said the order to shift the unit had not only disheartened the people of Sundargarh in particular and Odisha in general but also the people were feeling scared.
If the centre will be removed from here then how the people in this malaria prone area will be taken care of is a big question now, they opined.The copy of memorandum was also sent to Union Health Minister,Odisha Chief Minister, the Sundargarh MP and Sundargarh Collector, said BJD sources.