Significant reduction in malaria cases in Vadodara district as only 21 cases reported in the year 2020

Distribution of medicated mosquito nets to 18700 pregnant mothers in the district

Under the National Carrier Disease Control Program, the state government has launched a campaign to eradicate malaria by 2022. Malaria is a vector-borne disease spread by Anopheles female mosquitoes. This mosquito is produced in the water accumulated outside the house and it bites at night.

Malaria is characterised by chills, fever, headache, tingling, nausea and vomiting. One has to to contact the nearby primary health center, community health center, government hospital or health worker for a blood test and seek treatment for malaria in case of such symptoms.

In Vadodara district, 536 malaria cases were registered in the year 2016, 409 in 2017 and 199 in 2018. Under the Malaria Eradication Campaign, 75 cases were seen in the year 2019 and it comes down to only 21 cases in the year 2020 due to the hard work of the district health system.

The cases are decreasing but still the district malaria officer has taken precautionary measures to prevent mosquito-borne epidemics during the coming monsoon, as well as precautionary measures and awareness campaigns.

Close surveillance is being carried out to prevent malaria as well as other vector-borne diseases such as dengue and chikunguniya. To prevent malaria, keep water containers in the house like tank, flower pot, birdhouse and others covered with airtight lid. Scrub them once a week and drain off the stagnant water or fill it with soil. Use a mosquito net when sleeping at night, specially children and pregnant mothers use them. Keep the windows and doors of the house closed in the evening.

Surveillance has been organized in all the villages by the health system of Vadodara district. During the year 2021, medicated mosquito nets have been distributed to 18700 pregnant mothers. Also, at the village level it has been planned to distribute 55000 leaflets to spread the awareness regarding malaria and safety measures.

In Vadodara district, the health system has been working closely with taluka health officers, medical officers, taluka supervisors, multi-purpose health workers, female health workers and Asha workers to control the epidemic of Covid as well as to prevent vector-borne diseases, which is commendable. In this operation, health workers are conducting house-to-house visits to detect fever cases, survey mosquito sites, conduct anti-depressant activities and impart health education through banners, posters, pamphlets.

If any case of malaria is reported in any village, close surveillance, anti-depressant and fogging operations are started immediately.