Itanagar, Mar 10: Sixteen districts of Arunachal Pradesh have now been declared malaria-free, a senior health department official said.
Between 2022 and 2024, two more districts have been declared malaria-free in the state, bringing the total number to 16, Health Services deputy director Dr KT Mulung said while providing an overview of the state’s malaria elimination efforts during the state review meeting on malaria here.
Dr Mulung, who is also the National Center for Vector Borne Disease Control (NCVBDC) state programme officer, emphasized that the Annual Parasite Index (API) remains below 1, reflecting effective control measures.
“The state has not reported any malaria-related deaths for the last 8 years, highlighting the success of ongoing prevention and control initiatives,” he said.
Senior CMO (SAG), RoH&FW, GoI, Shillong, Dr LS Singh underscored the importance of sustaining malaria elimination through enhanced surveillance strategies.
He stressed the need to sustain the Annual Blood Examination Rate above 7 to ensure effective monitoring and to implement the National Framework for Malaria Elimination.
Family Welfare director Dr Marbom Basar praised the NVBDCP team for their dedication and urged districts to share best practices to improve efficiency across the state.
He emphasized the need for early detection, proactive surveillance, and increased blood slide collection, particularly among individuals traveling from endemic areas.
Dr Basar also highlighted the importance of local innovations tailored to sustaining malaria-free zones and strengthening disease control mechanisms.
National Health Mission MD Marge Sora stressed the significance of efficient administration, time management, and integrated resource management in achieving malaria elimination.
He reiterated that performance-based funding would be prioritized to ensure the successful implementation of disease control programs.
Sora also cautioned that any negligence in malaria surveillance and control could lead to potential outbreaks, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and commitment.
In the meeting, proper distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) and strengthening cross-border disease notification were also highlighted as crucial measures to prevent the reintroduction of malaria.
Additionally, the transition from paper-based reporting at primary health centers to a digital system (IHIP) is expected to improve data management and streamline disease surveillance.
The meeting also addressed the growing concern over dengue, with discussions on declaring it a notifiable disease to enhance monitoring and control efforts.