SHILLONG, April 25: The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on Monday awarded Meghalaya for its successful efforts in arresting the incidence of malaria, during a programme in the national capital.
The programme was organised to observe the World Malaria Day and was attended by Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.
According to a statement, Meghalaya was awarded by the Union Health Ministry for reducing the malaria burden from Category 3 (Intensified Control Phase) to Category 1 (Elimination Phase).
It may be mentioned that states or union territories with an annual parasite index (API) of one case per 1,000 population at risk or above one are categorised under Category 3. Similarly, states or union territories, including their districts, reporting an API of less than one case per 1,000 population at risk, are categorised under Category 1.
Now, Meghalaya’s malaria burden stands at Category 1.
State National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) officer Dr Bibha Marak had accepted the award on behalf of the state.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma also took to Twitter to inform about Meghalaya’s achievement.
“Meghalaya NVBDCP (Malaria Programme), received an award from MoHFW India on World Malaria Day, for our efforts to reduce the Malaria burden from Category 3 to Category 1, shifting the State from a Malaria Intensified Control Phase to an Elimination Phase,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Union Health Minister, during the programme, shed light on India’s success made in malaria elimination.
“India has made remarkable progress in reducing the malaria incidence and deaths. Our efforts have resulted in 86.45 per cent decline in malaria cases and 79.16 per cent reduction in malaria related deaths in 2021 as compared to 2015. One hundred twenty-four districts in the country have reported ‘zero malaria case’. This is a major step towards our goal for elimination of malaria but still more needs be done to fulfil the dream of Malaria-Free India,” the union health minister said.
World Malaria Day is observed on April 25 every year across the world to spread awareness about Malaria.
India still has one of the highest caseloads of malaria in the world, although the country has, in the last few years, seen a significant drop in cases, according to the World Health Organization’s World Malaria Report 2021.
In order to check the incidence of malaria, the Centre is running the National Malaria Control Programme, which includes vector control, i.e., the breeding of mosquitoes, and the monitoring and supervision of malaria hotspots.
Observance in city
World Malaria Day was also observed in the Office of the Senior Regional Director, Regional Office for Health & Family Welfare, in Shillong.
According to a statement, the programme, which was thematised on ‘Harness innovation to reduce Malaria disease burden & saves lives’, was attended by Senior Regional Director Dr LS Singh, Additional Senior Regional Director Dr J Lyngwa, (PH) Regional Officer, ROH&FW, Dr PJ Bhuyan, among others.
Dr LS Singh, in his speech, stressed on the need for new innovations to fight the menace of malaria and to work hard towards realising the goal of malaria elimination by 2030.