JP Nadda launches National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2017-22)

The strategic plan gives year wise elimination targets in various parts of the country depending upon the endemicity of malaria in the next five years

JP Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Malaria Elimination (2017-22). The strategic plan gives year wise elimination targets in various parts of the country depending upon the endemicity of malaria in the next five years.

Speaking at the launch, Nadda said that the government would like to eliminate malaria by 2027 and urged the states for active cooperation. He further stated that the programme has to be owned by the states. Dr Jagdish Prasad, DGHS, RKVats, Additional Secretary & Director General and Acting WHO Representative to India, Dr Suchaxaya Prakin were also present at the launch function.

Recalling the launch of the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) last year, Nadda stated that NFME outlined India’s commitment for eliminating malaria by 2030. The Health Minister said that encouraging results have been achieved in the North East India and our efforts are now focussed in other states such as Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Nadda further informed that since the past three years focus is on Long Lasting Impregnated Nets (LLINs). “The Ministry has distributed 14 million nets and 25 million nets are to be distributed,” Nadda said.

Highlighting the salient features of NSP, Nadda stated that the strategies involve strengthening malaria surveillance, establishing a mechanism for early detection and prevention of outbreaks of malaria, promoting the prevention of malaria by the use of LLINs, effective indoor residual spray and augmenting the manpower and capacities for effective implementation for the next five years. “Intersectoral coordination is the key, we have to work together with the other ministries and municipal corporations to achieve the desired results, Nadda added.

Dr Prakin said that today’s development is an important step in the direction of global efforts for elimination of malaria in various countries. She informed that one child dies of malaria every two minutes and the burden is the heaviest in the African region. India has the third highest malaria burden in the world. She stressed on harnessing innovation and research along with monitoring and surveillance, and community participation.

Also present at the event were Navdeep Rinwa, Joint Secretary, Dr PK Sen, Director, NVBDCP along with the other senior officers of the Ministry and representatives of international development organisations.