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The prevention of diseases like malaria in the dense forests and inaccessible areas of Bastar Division has always been a major challenge, but due to strategic and consolidated efforts, the state's positivity rate drops from 4.60 per cent to 0.51 per cent.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, considering the monsoon season, has directed the health department to take proactive measures for prevention of seasonal diseases. Measures taken in compliance with the instructions of the Chief Minister have resulted in a significant reduction in the number of malaria cases across the state, including Bastar, marking a major achievement. Following the Chief Minister's instructions to intensify efforts towards malaria eradication during the rainy season, Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal is currently touring Bijapur district. Out of the total number of malaria cases in Chhattisgarh, 61.99 per cent originate from Dantewada, Bijapur, and Narayanpur. The active measures taken by the health department and the initiatives under the Chief Minister's guidance have led to a substantial decrease in malaria cases in these districts. According to the annual parasite incidence rate, the malaria rate in Chhattisgarh dropped from 2.63 per cent in 2018 to 0.99 per cent in 2023. Similarly, in Bastar, this rate decreased from 16.49 per cent to 7.78 per cent. Under the malaria eradication campaign, the malaria positivity rate has declined from 4.60 per cent to 0.51 per cent over the course of nine phases from 2020 to 2023. The tenth phase of this campaign concluded on July 5, 2024. As part of this campaign, 16.97 lakh insecticide-treated mosquito nets were distributed across 22 districts in the state. In the malaria case report released by the health department for the first half of 2024, as many as 1,660 cases in Bastar, 4,441 in Bijapur, 1,640 in Dantewada, 259 in Kanker, 701 in Kondagaon, 1,509 in Narayanpur, and 1,144 in Sukma were reported. Consequently, the health department has enhanced case monitoring and strengthened the treatment facilities in all the districts. Following the instructions of Chief Minister, state government has appealed people to immediately visit the nearest health center upon noticing malaria symptoms and seek timely treatment. Government's vigilance and public awareness has led to significant reduction in the number of malaria cases in the state. (ANI)
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