Malaria Mukt Bastar Abhiyan

About the programme

The Malaria Mukt Bastar Abhiyan is a program implemented by the National Health Mission and covers all the districts of Bastar, Kanker and Kondagaon regions. Given that approximately 72% of all malaria cases in the country are diagnosed in the Bastar region, this large-scale project and its successful implementation is well noted.

Both Bijapur and Dantewada are located in remote areas and are severely affected by Left Wing Extremist (LWE) activities. Needless to say, such factors make programme implementation more challenging, especially if using door to door campaigning as required under the programme.

Aim of the programme

• To reduce morbidity & mortality due to malaria in the State & especially in tribal   predominant high endemic blocks with special focus on pregnant women, lactating mother and under 5 yr children.
• To reduce parasite load in the community in high endemic pockets by diagnosing symptomatic and asymptomatic (afebrile) malaria cases to  ensure complete treatment. 

Activities Conducted during Abhiyan

• Door to door visited by the survey team to achieve 100% coverage of the targeted population.
• Test, Treat and Track approach was followed
• Provide local food to the Malaria positive cases by the survey team to avoid drug intake in empty stomach.
• Wall sticker/stencils pasted outside the surveyed houses to identify the house and left-out persons.
• Treatment card issued to all Malaria Positive cases for ensuring complete treatment and verification during case follow up.
• Referrals slip for severe and complicated cases.
• Follow up slide preparation after one month of treatment completion and examination to ensure parasite elimination.
• Surveillance in Haat-Bazaar by organizing health camps and effective IEC
• Source reduction activities (Larvivorous Gambusia fish) during door to door survey.
• LLIN monitoring during door to door survey.
• Whistling/ ringing of bell in the evening by Mitanin for community awareness for using LLIN.
• Inter sectoral coordination with different departments like CGMSC, WCD, NCDC, Paramilitary Education, Forest etc.
• Entomological surveillance in coordination with NCDC.
• Data collection by using google sheet.

Outcome

However, despite these challenges and the Covid-19 pandemic, health workers covered 100% of the area, which involves 6,000 villages to conduct malaria tests. As asymptomatic malaria is known to cause anaemia and malnutrition, testing is a crucial method for early diagnosis and treatment. As a result of the programme, the region saw a 65% year-on-year decline in the total cases of malaria recorded, and by the final phase of testing, malaria incidences in Bijapur had been reported to reduce by 71.3% and 54% in Dantewada.

Source : UNDP