nThe 'Malaria Free Bastar' campaign is emerging as a huge success.
There has been a fall of 65.53 percent in malaria cases in September 2020 as compared to September 2019 in the Bastar division, an official statement said on Friday.
A total of 4,230 cases of malaria were found in seven districts of the division last year, down to 1,458 this September.
Under the Malaria Free Bastar campaign, the first phase was conducted in January-February and the second phase in June-July.
Under the first phase, 64,646 people were found to be infected with malaria and were fully treated, from the 14,06,000 who were tested.
Within the second phase, the Health Department team examined 23,75,000 people and provided immediate treatment to 30,076 people suffering from malaria amid the challenges faced by the spread of Covid 19.
When compared with the cases of last September with reference to this September, the impact of the 'Malaria-free Bastar' campaign showed a plunge of 75.2 percent in Kanker district, 73.1 percent in Kondagaon, 71.9 per cent in Sukma, 71.3 percent in Bijapur, 57 percent in Narayanpur, 54.7 percent in Bastar and 54 percent in Dantewada.
While there were 491 cases of malaria in Kanker district last September, only 122 cases have been reported this year. Similar figures for Kondagaon were (294/79), Sukma (480/135), Bijapur (1,314/377), Narayanpur (328/141), Bastar (594/269) and Dantewada (729/335).
On the initiative of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the 'Malaria Free Bastar' campaign has been extended as a mass campaign.
Health Minister T.S. Singh Deo has been meeting senior departmental officers and Collectors of all the districts of Bastar, monitoring the campaign continuously and giving it necessary guidelines to ensure 100 per cent success.
Malaria screening has been done of every person in the inaccessible and remote areas of Bastar surrounded by dense forests and mountains. Immediate treatment was provided when they were found to be malaria positive.
During the campaign, a large number of people who were found to be malaria positive in Bastar division had no signs of malaria. Asymptomatic malaria causes anaemia and malnutrition.