New Delhi, Dec 2 (NI) Commending India’s efforts in reducing the cases the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that India has continued impressive gains in Malaria reduction in 2020 also. In annual report the ‘World Malaria Report (WMR) 2020’ released by WHO, which gives the estimated cases for malaria across the world, said that India has made considerable progress in reducing its malaria burden.
“India is the only high endemic country which has reported a decline of 17.6 percent in 2019 as compared to 2018. The Annual Parasitic Incidence (API) reduced by 27.6percent in 2018 compared to 2017 and by 18.4 percent in 2019 as compared to 2018. India has sustained API less than one since year 2012.
The WHO report also said that India has also contributed to the largest drop in cases region-wide, from around 20 million to about 6 million. The percentage drop in the malaria cases was 71.8 percent and deaths was 73.9 percent between 2000 to 2019.
“With its sustain efforts, India achieved a reduction of 83.34 percent in malaria morbidity and 92 percent in malaria mortality between the year 2000 with 20,31,790 cases with 932 deaths while in 2019 3,38,494 cases with 77 deaths, thereby achieving ‘Goal 6’ of the Millennium Development Goals (50-75 percent decrease in case incidence between 2000 and 2019).
“Decrease in incidence of Malaria cases is also exhibited in the year-on-year tally. The cases and fatalities have declined significantly by 21.27 percent and 20 percent in the year 2019 in which 3,38,494 cases were reported with 77 deaths as compared to 2018 tally of of 4,29,928 cases with 96 deaths”, the report said.
The total number of malaria cases reported in 2020, till October, was 1,57,284 which is again a further decreased by 45.02 percent as compared to corresponding period of 2019’s tally of 2,86,091.
Malaria Elimination efforts were initiated in the country in 2015 and were intensified after the launch of National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) in 2016 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2017-22) was launched by the Health Ministry in July, 2017 which laid down strategies for the next five years.
The first two years saw a 27.7 percent decline in cases and 49.5 percent reduction in fatalities; 11,69,261 cases and 385 deaths in 2015to 8,44,558 cases and 194 deaths in 2017.
The States States of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya and Madhya Pradesh disproportionately accounted for nearly 45.47 percent which is around 1,53,909 cases out of India’s 3,38,494 cases of malaria and 70.54 percent 1,10,708 cases out of India’s 1,56,940 cases of falciparum Malaria cases in 2019 whereas 63.64 percent which means 49 out of 77 of malaria deaths were also reported from these states.
Due to the efforts made by the Government of India in provision of microscopes, rapid diagnostics Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) – about 5 crores have been distributed in seven North-East States, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha up to 2018-19 and another 2.25 crore LLINs are being supplied and distributed during current financial year to high burden areas leading to reduction in endemicity in these otherwise very high endemic states.
