Sundargarh(Kalinga Voice):The Department of Health and Family Welfare is undertaking various measures for malaria control across Odisha. In Sundargarh district, the distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) to beneficiaries will augment malaria control. The distribution of mosquito nets will commence from 28 December as decided at a recent district task force meeting chaired by the Collector, Shri Nikhil Pavan Kalyan.
In the first phase, the distribution of mosquito nets will be launched in sixareas of the district namely Rourkela Metropolitan Corporation, Birmitrapur Municipality, BonaiSadarand Hatibari under Kuarmunda and Laing Community Health Centre (CHC). The distribution will be completed by 02 January 2021.
A total of 2,579 distribution points have been set up for the distribution of mosquito nets within the stipulated time. More than 13,000 workers, including Asha and Anganwadi workers from different regions, will be involved in the distribution. The administration aims to complete the mosquito net distribution program in each block within a week.
In the second phase, mosquito nets will be distributed in phases in the rest of the district from January 04. The distribution is expected to be completed in about three weeks. This year, over 13 lakh Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) will be distributed among the beneficiaries. As many as 11 lakh mosquito nets have been receivedby the district so far, informs Dr Manoj Mahapatra, Consultant, District Vector Borne Diseases.
Three types of mosquito nets are being distributed free of cost by the government. Adolescent girls and boys, widows, PWDs and the elderly will be provided with single mosquito nets. Couples having one child within the age of 5 will receive double mosquito nets. Similarly, families with two children or children older than 5 years will be given large size mosquito nets.
Awareness will be raised on using the mosquito nets regularly. In addition, arrangements have been made to monitor the proper use of the same among target beneficiaries, through local health workers and other rural functionaries.
In the year 2020till November, over2 lakh 94 thousand malaria tests have been done out of which only 1,501 positive cases have been recorded. Additionally, zero casualty due to malaria till now is a marker of different interventions taken up by the district health infrastructure to control malaria.
Apartfrom the regular activities of the health department in the district, various malaria control measures are also being taken up with financial support of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF).
