Dimapur, April 26 (MExN): On the occasion of World Malaria Day 2022, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India felicitated 18 States/UTs for their good performance from 2015 to 2021.
Nagaland was also selected as one of the states for “excellent performance towards malaria elimination” and was felicitated by Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya during the commemoration of the day on April 125.
Informing this in a press release Dr Neisakho Kere, Joint Director & SPO, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland stated that malaria elimination is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
In 2016, Government of India launched National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016-30 and states/UTs were categorized in three categories based on the Annual Parasite Incidence (API). During the last six years, India has made progress towards malaria elimination with 86.5% reduction in cases and 76% reduction in deaths.
Nagaland soon to attain ‘malaria free’ state
Kohima: Nagaland is only a step away from being ‘malaria free’ state and is one of the top contenders in the race towards malaria elimination in the Northeast region.
This was stated by Nagaland’s technical education and election advisor Medo Yhokha during the observance of World Malaria Day at Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) Seikhazou, Kohima under the theme “Harness innovation to reduce the Malaria disease burden and save lives.”
According to the available statistics of Health & Family Welfare Department, there were about 850 positive cases of Malaria when the state started the campaign against malaria in 2016 and today down the line in 2021, the state registered a single digit of only 8 positive cases, said Yhokha.
Dr Nitovi Shikhu, Deputy Director, National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control (NCVBDC) Nagaland, was optimistic that the state will be able to completely achieve Malaria elimination target goal by next year or at the end of 2022.
During 2016, there are more than 8489 malaria cases in the state but within 12 years, it has registered consecutive reducing cases of Malaria.
Meanwhile, according to state’s health and family welfare department, no deaths from Malaria cases have been reported for the last 3 years in the state.
In 2021, zero malaria cases has been reported from six districts- Longleng, Mokokchung, Mon, Peren, Phek and Zunheboto & UVBDS Dimapur.
The department is aiming to achieve Nagaland as malaria-free state in the coming years.
Meanwhile, the department stated that free medicines and testing for malaria related cases is available in all government hospitals in the state.
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