Tura, March 7: A bold plan of the government to eradicate the deadly disease of Malaria from across the country by the year 2030 is also covering the Garo Hills region, where the disease once took scores of lives, with the distribution of the highly efficient and insecticide treated bednets- also known as Long Lasting Insecticidal Mosquito Nets or LLINs.

On Thursday, ahead of the onset of the malaria season, a special drive to check against outbreak of the disease began with Member of Parliament representing Tura Lok Sabha seat, Agatha K Sangma distributing the insecticide treated bed nets for villagers ar Babadam primary health centre, 30 kms from Tura.

The programme was organised by District Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (DVBDCP), West Garo Hills Tura.

There are plans underway to also eradicate the indigenous malaria strain prevalent in the Garo Hills as early as 2027.

Addressing the beneficiaries and villagers, Agatha K Sangma highlighted the prevalence of malaria disease in the region and said statistics revealed that in the year 2015 there were about 46,000 malaria patients in the state.

She said that it was due to different interventions of the Government that malaria cases have now dropped to an all time low.

Expressing her appreciation to all the medical Officers of the region especially, the staff of Babadam PHC, ASHAs and participation from community, she said that their dedication and participation has helped to reduce malaria and other vector borne diseases in the State of Meghalaya in general and Garo Hills region in particular.

Agatha K Sangma also lauded the state government under the leadership of Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya for giving utmost priority to the health sector and the implemention of various health schemes in the rural areas.

Senior Medical and Health Officer incharge, DVBDCP, Tura Dr. Bichitrani Ch Marak reminded the gathering that distribution of LLIN mosquito nets is one of the measures to control malaria disease in the region and added that the distribution of the LLIN in the previous years since 2010-11 with gaps in between were found to control the disease in the area.

She also mentioned that after the distribution of LLIN nets in the year 2016 malaria cases reduced in 2017-18 and again it was distributed in the year 2020, but after its expiry in 2022 there was a sudden surge of malaria cases in the year 2023 in the region.

Stating that the matter was then reported to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has allotted the LLINs for distribution to the community in the State of Meghalaya and about 80 per cent of the community is covered under this scheme.

Further, mentioning that the reports from all over India indicated a considerable decrease in malaria disease and therefore, a project called “National framework for Malaria Elimination from 2016 to 2030 has been started and the project targets to eliminate malaria in the year 2030 in the country.

She also mentioned that by 2027 the indigenous malaria pertaining to Garo Hills region should be eliminated from the region.

Even though there was a surge of 23 malaria patients in 2022 and 83 malaria patients in 2023, she said that measures to control the disease are in place and added that surveillance workers, ASHAs who are trained to test malaria patients in rural areas.

Moreover, she urged the community to facilitate the medical fraternity by testing themselves if they have fever and that malaria positive patients should complete their treatment and keep the surrounding clean to avoid breeding of mosquitoes.

District Consultant, West Garo Hills made a short presentation on Epidemiological and impact of LLIN and also informed on using the LLIN nets.

During the programme, the Chief Guest distributed LLIN to the beneficiaries. Further, the Chief Guest also distributed Food items to the Tuberculosis patients of the area which was sponsored by Jasmine A Sangma, Proprietor, Nokrek Heights School, Tura.

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