With the rise in number of malaria cases in Mewat region for the past many years, Haryana health department is taking no chance this year and has ordered special attention to control malaria cases in districts Nuh, Palwal and Yamunanagar.
Malaria, a mosquito-borne illness, continues to be a major public health problem. The problem is persistent in both rural and urban area. Malaria transforms into an epidemic every monsoon in Mewat with thousands of cases being reported. As per the available reports, in Haryana, 4,485 cases of malaria were reported in 2014 while 9308 in 2015, 7866 in 2016, 5696 in 2017, 3154 in 2018. As per studies, nine per cent of Mewat’s population, every year contributes to over two-thirds of Haryana’s malaria burden.
Last year, the state government had declared Mewat hyper sensitive, following a malaria epidemic with over 1,350 cases being reported. The actual number of malaria patients is much higher as most residents go to private practitioners.
Despite significance efforts by the government to control malaria, the disease remains one of the public health problems in Mewat. Department official said that the problem in Mewat region is that road and transport facilities are minimal, limited health care facilities and inappropriate preventive measures.
While there are many factors for the annual outbreak in the area, the key culprit is filthy, mostly stagnant water in the drains that makes the area particularly vulnerable to mosquito-borne diseases. The problem gets aggravated as a substantial number of residents have taken to fish farming, which adds to stagnant water that serves as breeding spots for mosquitoes carrying malaria-causing larva.
Dr Usha Gupta, director, Haryana Health services said that special attention has been given to districts Nuh, Palwal and Yamunanagar. Ujina PHC in Nuh, Khizrabad in Yamunanagar and Solera in Palwal are still high malaria prone areas. Recruitment of multipurpose health workers have been done recently. Earlier, against total strength of 84 multipurpose health workers (male), only five were deputed but now 37 has been deployed in Nuh. This year, 33 multipurpose health workers have been deployed in Palwal and 40 in Yammuna Nagar.
Along with this, a malaria diagnosis has been strengthened. 15 Microscopes purchased. Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits has been provided to districts concerned for malaria diagnosis which helps in immediate start of Radical Treatment, she said, adding June is being observed as Anti-Malaria Month while July as Anti-Dengue Month.
Moreover, to control malaria, an awareness drive has been launched through distribution of pamphlets, displaying of hoardings/posters/banners at prominent places and group meetings. Measures like Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets have been provided in all sub centres, the official said.
In District Nuh, about 1.74 Lac (LLINs, Bed-Nets) has already distributed in 145 high risk villages. Indoor
Residual Spray (IRS) has been carried out in Malaria prone areas under strict supervision. Anti-larval activities in Ujina drain in Nuh and Palwal and crusher zone areas of Yamunanagar are being carried out intensively, the Director said. Other measures like call centre will be utilized to verify RT of malaria cases and ASHAs will be involved for malaria diagnosis and treatment to fill up the gap, Dr Gupta said, adding various departments including fishery, irrigation, education, urban local bodies, panchayat raj among others have also been involved in creating awareness to check malaria cases.
Funds have been provided to districts to procure Microscopes wherever required (total 57 microscopes will be procured by June 2019). 107 high risk subcentres have been identified which are being covered under Indoor Residual Spray. Funds also provided for 18 Fogging Machines (2 each in 9 Districts viz.Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad, Gurugram, Nuh, Palwal, Panipat, Rewari, Rohtak and Jhajjar) which are likely to be procured by June 2019.