A high level review meeting on malaria control in the State was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on Monday.
The meeting deliberated on system strengthening in the context of malaria elimination. Reviewing the progress, Padhi directed to intensify State sponsored malaria elimination scheme named DAMAN in remote districts from the month of May. The Chief Secretary assured that the State Government would provide the required fund for the purpose from its own resources.
Further, the Chief Secretary directed the Health and Family Welfare Department to ensure availability of malarial medicines at PHCs and Health Centres and cautioned the department that no person should be deprived of getting medicine in time.
It was decided that the implementation of the DAMAN scheme would be intensified in eight districts which have reported more than 10 API. These districts include Gajpati, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabrangpur, Nuapada and Rayagada. An amount of Rs 25 crore has been estimated for the purpose. The services to be provided would include diagnosis, treatment, intensive mass awareness, behavioural change communications, haemoglobin test, nutrition test and supply of medicines etc.
The meeting further decided to set up 25 entomological units in various districts including five municipal corporations to address malaria and other vector borne diseases. It was also decided that around 1.52 crore llI nets would be procured from Global Fund for TB , AIDS and Malaria ( GFTAM) control through Government of India within six months. Besides, the ongoing programmes like indoor residual spray, diagnosis and treatment within 24 hours would also be intensified.