Even though there is threat of spread of malaria, the State Government is yet to procure mosquito nets for distribution among people in vulnerable areas in spite of availability of funds with it.
According to sources, the newly-constituted State Drug Corporation has already been given Rs 70 crore for purchase of 30 lakh mosquito nets. Mosquito nets have not been purchased for the last two years, sources said. The corporation has not even invited tenders for the purchase.
According to official data, 21 of 30 districts are vulnerable to malaria endemic with five in every thousand blood samples testing malaria positive.
When number of malaria deaths has decreased, yet special attention is still needed to combat it. While 198 persons had died in 2009 in the disease, the number came down to 67 in 2013 and further rose to 89 in 2014, according to the data.
Use of mosquito nets is found to have contributed to the decline. While the Centre has been providing funds for purchase of mosquito nets since 2009-10 fiscal, the authorities only began distributing such nets in 2012-13.
Meanwhile, health experts have apprehended that malaria might return in several districts and suggested to the Government to take precautions well before any such situations arise.