For immediate diagnosis of Malaria, the State Health Department has distributed rapid diagnostic kits to 34,000 Mitanins in 86 development blocks of 20 districts, officials stated. These kits will help them in rapid diagnosis and treatment of affected patients in the State. In the month of October-November 2014, the Health Department had organised day-long training programme for Mitanins, wherein rapid diagnostic kits for Malaria were distributed to them.
For this training programme, Master Trainers were trained in four regional centres of the Health Department, based in Ambikapur (Surguja), Jagdalpur (Bastar), Bilaspur and Raipur. These master trainers went to different districts and provided training to Mitanins. Till date, Mitanins have examined and treated 21,266 Malaria patients, with the help of rapid diagnostic kits allotted.
Rapid diagnostic kits for Malaria were distributed to Mitanins of all the developments blocks of Bastar and Sarguja Division, Gharghod, lailunga, Dharamjaigarh, Tamnaar blocks of Raigarh district, Daundi block of Balod district, Bodla block of Kabeerdham district, Mainpur and Chhura block of Gariaband district, Pendra Marwahi and Kota block of Bilaspur district, Korba, Katghora, Kartala, Pali, Paudi-Uproda blocks of Korba district, Mohla, Manpur, Ambagarh Chowki of Rajnandgaon district.
It is known that National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme is being conducted for prevention and control of 6 vector borne diseases. This programme has yielded significant results in the State. Consequently, Annual Parasite Index (API) of Malaria, which was 16.8 in year 2000, has declined to 4.2. Moreover, blood strip positive rate has also decreased from 8.8 to 2.9.