There has been a considerable fall in number of malaria patients all over in Sambalpur district. All the areas and blocks of the district have become green zones so far as malaria is concerned.This has been possible when the Government distributed medicated mosquito nets (MMNs) all over the district from 2017.
As per information, the number of malaria-affected persons per year otherwise called as ‘annual parasite incidence’ (API) was 12. 2 per 1,000 population in 2016, but it has reduced to only 0.1 in 2019, informed the officials in a review meeting of Malaria Steering Committee in the district headquarters where Sambalpur Collector Subham Saxena presided.
They further informed that in the year 2016, total 1, 43, 248 blood samples were tested where 12, 046 were found to be malaria positive. But it was only 133 out of 1,26, 427 in 2019.
However, in Charmal area, the average is little higher, the vector borne disease (VBD) officials informed.
It is further learnt that there has been no death due to malaria during the last four years.It was further decided to take adequate measures to ensure that the district gets total malaria free as early as possible as part of the programme of both the State and Central Governments.
Collector Saxena stressed on the need for total malaria eradication in the high risk areas like Charmal and other forest infested areas.
The Sub Collectors of Sambalpur, Kuchinda and Rairakhol, CDMO Dr Sushil Patel, ADPHO Dr Ashok Das and other line officers were present in the review meeting. ADPHO (VBD) Dr Sushil Dash informed that in the year 2016, total 6.2 lakh medicated mosquito nets of single, double and family size were distributed to people of district.