Malaria-free Gujarat? Not until Ahmedabad, Surat take the sting out

The state government in May 2017, had announced to make Malaria Free Gujarat by 2022. However, health commissioner Jayanti Ravi believes that the two Urban Local Bodies – Ahmedabad and Surat - municipal corporations are the biggest hurdles as maximum cases of malaria have been reported from here.

Ravi has also raised a concern about Surendranagar district which also has the highest number of cases as compared to the other rural pockets. In a letter to AMC, Ravi said 26% cases of malaria across the state have been reported in civic body limits.

"We are trying our best to support the municipal corporation in tackling malaria. However, it is evident that UHC (Urban Health Centre) are not taking effective steps. Monitoring and supervision by them is also very poor," states the letter written to AMC by the health commissioner.

While talking with a senior state health officer, DNA learned there was declining trend in malaria across the state. "Overall there is a declining trend in malaria since last three years, across the state. Last year, there was a rise in malaria. Technically speaking, on two ULBs and in one district there was a rising trend of the cases compared to rest of the state," said the official.

"Almost 16% decline was reported across the state in 2017 in malaria cases. Two corporations have the highest number of cases of malaria among them," added the official.

Explaining the reasons of the highest numbers of malaria cases, official said, "Surat have conducive weather for mosquitoes because of humidity. Both the urban areas are the mostly dense and populated. Both receives migratory population."

Talking about the number of cases in AMC limit, Dr Bhavin Solanki, in-charge medical officer said, "We collect blood samples and blood serum from people suffering from fever. We are doing extensive screening of people, specially those living in slum pockets."

"Mostly, the malaria cases we report are the relapse incidents. We are advising the private practitioners to follow their malaria patients and complete their 14 days treatment," added Dr Soalnki.

Agreeing with Dr Solanki, senior health officials of the state government admitted that most of the cases of malaria being reported across the state are relapse cases. "In rural Gujarat – the Asha workers are doing follow up of the malaria cases and for that, they are getting incentives also. The same is true with the urban pockets. But, most of the malaria cases reported in urban pockets come from private doctors. There are two main reasons for it. The population compared to the rural area and the man-made breeding sites are also major issues because of the on-going construction," said Dr Vikas Desai, director, Urban Health and Climate Resilience Centre.

"Dengue and malaria's vectors are domestic vectors found in the fresh water. People should cooperate with the system, to prevent mosquito breeding sites. Many a time in urban pockets people are not allowing the surveillance team to conduct inspection of the house.," added Dr Desai.

To prevent the malaria cases in AMC limits, the civic body is running anti-larval activities round the year. "We have identified open plots and places where vector breeding is very likely. We are going to prevent breeding by sprinkling insecticides. Also, in permanent water bodies we have released guppy fish."

Govt has framework for Malaria Free Guj

Eliminate malaria from all Elimination Districts (20 districts/corporations) by 2019. Reduce the incidence of malaria to less than 1 case per 1000 population per year in all districts/corporations and their talukas by 2020.

Interrupt indigenous transmission of malaria throughout the entire state, including all high transmission districts/ corporations and their villages by 2022.

Prevent re-establishment of local transmission of malaria in areas where it has been eliminated and maintain state malaria-free status by 2025 and beyond.