BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has asked the Collectors of three southern districts to support Tata Trusts for proper implementation of DAMaN programme which aims at eliminating malaria in inaccessible areas.
In a letter to Collectors of Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Rayagada districts, Secretary of Health and Family Welfare department Dr Pramod Kumar Meherda stated that the strategy adopted by the Tata Trusts for elimination of malaria is similar to that of DAMaN.
Tata Trusts have been involved in the comprehensive health programme along with malaria elimination covering five blocks in the three districts. They have already completed field level positioning of human resources and initial capacity building on malaria control activities.
Since they will soon start their regular activities including facilitation of Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) and distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) besides mass screening of malaria and malnutrition, it should be taken as an opportunity for learning by respective districts for ensuring effective implementation of DAMaN.
Meherda has asked the district administrations to focus on Early Diagnosis and Complete Treatment (EDCT), Information Education and Communication (IEC) and Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) activities and extend all possible support on a regular basis to make the collaboration a success.
The collectors have been directed to monitor the progress of the programme and identify the gaps to provide necessary support. Apart from malaria control, the comprehensive health development programme launched in the districts also requires proper integration with the health system.
‘Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran’ (DAMaN), which means elimination of malaria in inaccessible areas, is a new malaria control programme launched by the State Government with a budgetary provision of `120 crore in five years.
The programme is being implemented in 8,000 villages of all 79 blocks in eight high-malaria endemic southern districts of Gajpati, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabrangpur, Nuapada and Rayagada.
These eight districts have reported more than 10 Annual Parasite Incidence (API). In the first phase of the Malaria Elimination Scheme, about 80 lakh people would be benefited. Odisha contributes around 38 per cent of the reported malaria cases and 28 per cent of deaths to the country’s total malaria burden.