1 week Ago By Sentinel Digital Desk
OUR CORRESPONDENT Papum Pare Deputy Commissioner Jiken Bomjen has said that eliminating malaria is not just a ‘health priority’ but a social and economic imperative. In a meeting of the district malaria elimination task force to review the progress of malaria elimination efforts and strategize the implementation of advanced measures to achieve a malaria-free status for the district at Yupia on Thursday, he said with a united front and rigorous implementation of our strategies, we can achieve a malaria-free district status and improve the overall quality of lives of our citizens. Emphasizing the vital role of community involvement in elimination, he urged local leaders, religious leaders, health volunteers and civil society organizations to actively participate in the campaign.
He also highlighted the need for coordination among various departments, including education, Water Resources department, Public Health Engineering department, Veterinary, and Fisheries department to address environmental factors contributing to malaria spread, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme state project officer and also deputy director Dr KT Mulung gave an overview of the state’s malaria statistics focusing on areas with high incidence rates. He also discussed the impact of the ongoing interventions such as insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying, and anti-malarial treatment distribution. “These interventions have greatly reduced the vector borne diseases in the state, resulting in 14 districts of being declared malaria free,” Dr Mulung added.
Papum Pare District Vector Borne Disease Control Programme nodal officer Dr Tana Aruna Likha informed that till November 2024, only one case of malaria has been recorded in the district. She appealed to all the stakeholders to cooperate and intensify the efforts to completely eliminate malaria from the district. Dr Aruna further highlighted the ill effects of DDT and the alternates that can be used in its place.
The meeting also saw discussion on optimal utilization of resources, including funds, strengthening disease surveillance systems to detect and treat cases promptly, medical supplies, and workforce to ensure the program’s effectiveness. Also Read: Also Watch:.
