BY TC News Desk
Agartala, March 15, 2024: In a concerted effort to combat malaria, the Tripura Health Department is extending its reach to the challenging terrains of the state, aiming to control the vector, as stated by Rajiv Manjhi, the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Speaking at a press conference, Manjhi outlined the collaborative efforts between Tripura and the Central government to achieve a malaria-free status in the state by 2027.
“To attain this ambitious goal, we have initiated regional review meetings to sensitize all stakeholders. Our objective is zero transmission by 2027, employing innovative strategies and bolstering the detection of active cases. We are emphasizing behavioral change communication and community engagement to enhance awareness. Eradicating malaria demands collective action, and we are steadfast in our mission to break its transmission,” remarked the officials.
Manjhi highlighted the deployment of ASHA workers statewide to visit households where individuals are afflicted with fever. “Be it urban or rural areas, wherever the vector persists, it must be curbed. Many individuals in rural settings carry the parasite, some without symptoms. Hence, we are screening them to interrupt transmission. Our trained ASHA workers are conducting fever case monitoring using RDT test kits to diagnose malaria and initiate treatment,” he informed the reporters.
Further, the officials addressed the challenges underlying malaria spread in remote regions. “Various ethnic communities inhabit these hard-to-reach areas, posing difficulties in accessing medical aid. Consequently, we are confronted with geographical hurdles but are committed to reaching these areas to control the vector, trace, detect, and diagnose cases,” they added.
Meanwhile, Binay Bhusan Das, the Director of the National Health Mission in Tripura, emphasized the significant increase in screening efforts in the state, resulting in prompt detection and treatment. “Our primary focus lies on the Dhalai District, where a review meeting will be convened,” he affirmed.
