Malaria cases continued to rise in Haryana with over 325 cases reported this season in two months. Out of 325, 193 malaria cases have been reported from Nuh district while 46 such cases from Palwal showing the disease is far from eliminated.
Meanwhile, the state health department is on its toes to control vector-borne diseases.
The officials have found larvae-breeding in large number of houses and establishments during checking drive in sensitive areas of the state and over 12,000 notices have been issued for larvae breeding.
However, despite significant efforts by the health department to control malaria, the disease remains one of the public health problems in Mawat region in particular and across the state. Monsoon and malaria are synonymous to each other. When rain water remains clogged, it helps the mosquitoes breeding process.
The spread of malaria can be prevented by keeping such clogged areas clean.
Dr Usha Gupta, director, Haryana Health services said that with the deployment of sufficient numbers of doctors, multipurpose health workers, medicines and other necessary equipments at health centres in the state, special attention has been given to district Nuh and Palwal of Mewat region where maximum cases have been reported particularly over the last two months. Notices have been served to the owners of houses and commercial establishments for larvae breeding. Now the health department is planning to impose challans on commercial establishments for larvae breeding in Municipal Corporation area and for this, a proposal has been sent to the state government, she added.
As per figures provided by the health department, 431 cases of Malaria have been reported since January to August 8 this year in the state. 241 such cases have been reported in Nuh, 55 in Palwar, 30 in Panchkula, 27 in Faridabad, 17 in Hisar, 15 in Gurugram, Nine in Yamunanagar.
Malaria is a well-known mosquito-borne illness and it continues to be a major public health problem. As per statistics, the problem is persistent in both rural and urban area but most of the cases are being reported from Palwar and Nuh districts so far. The Health department had observed ‘World Malaria Day’ on?April 25 and June month was observed as Anti-Malaria Month, but above figure is a cause for worry for health officials.
Moreover, the director further said, “As a part of creating awareness to control malaria, an appeal of State Health Minister is being circulated to all Sarpanch/Panch. Other awareness methods like distribution of pamphlets, displaying of hoardings/posters/banners at prominent places, group meetings are being applied in rural and urban areas of the state.
Measures like Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs, Bed-Nets) are being provided in all sub centres. In District Nuh, about 1.74 Lac (LLINs, Bed-Nets) Government of India (GOI) has already distributed in high risk villages, she said, adding Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) has been carried out. ASHAs are being involved for malaria diagnosis and treatment to fill up the gap.
The director said that various departments including fishery, irrigation, education, urban local bodies, panchayat raj among others have also been involved in creating awareness to check malaria cases.
She further said that people have been advised that water from coolers, flower pots, haudies etc to be emptied once a week and scrubbed properly to kill the eggs of mosquitoes. One need to ensure that insecticide spray in each room of the house in high risk areas and do not paint the house at least for three months after the spray.
People should seek doctor’s advise on having fever immediately. Moreover, do’t not allows water to stagnate inside houses and surroundings for more than a week, the director added.
