Sambalpur: District Taskforce Committee Meeting; Campaign for Malaria, Dengue, and Filariasis Prevention
Mass Medication from August 10 to 19
Sambalpur: A task force committee meeting on malaria, dengue fever, and filariasis was held under the auspices of the District Health Committee in Sambalpur, chaired by District Collector Akshay Sunil Agrawal. The group discussed mass medicine and awareness efforts to eliminate filariasis. The emphasis was on ensuring that everyone participated in the mass medication program, which ran from August 10 to 19. Each individual will receive medication at home, and the program will be carried out in specific locations such as schools, offices, factories, and jails, mostly through ASHA workers’ medicine depots. A decision was made to appoint one medication administrator for every 250 people.
Additionally, plans to enhance the battle against dengue and malaria, as well as steps to reduce mosquito breeding, were discussed. The District Collector directed the necessary measures to prevent mosquito growth. According to data, 12,046 of the 143,248 tested for malaria in 2016, with one death. In 2017, 151,175 tests were performed, generating 5,119 positive results and no deaths. In 2018, 126,427 tests detected 319 cases. In 2019, 132,025 tests identified 133 cases. In 2020, 113,646 tests revealed 204 cases. In 2021, 116,967 tests revealed 120 cases. In 2022, 134,637 tests identified 82 cases. In 2023, 143,852 tests detected 161 cases, whereas in 2024 (till May 24), 59,084 tests resulted in 6 positive cases with no deaths reported.
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The meeting highlighted the importance of providing complete treatment for malaria patients, conducting mass screenings based on a single positive identification, improving patient cards and case investigation formats, and conducting malaria mass screenings twice a year in all tribal residential schools and high-risk villages. It also prioritized implementing the Malaria Eradication Campaign (DAMEIN) in distant locations. The District Collector directed all line departments to carry out their duties in eradicating malaria, dengue, and lymphatic filariasis. The meeting was attended by SMC Commissioner Vedbhushan, CDO cum EO, District Councilor Dharmendra Mallik, CDM and PHO Dr. Sujata Rani Mishra, DPHO Dr. Ashok Kumar Das, ADPHO Dr. Suchitra Sahu, and senior officials from the health and other departments.
