The Health department in Kothagudem has been taking preventive measures to reduce the number of malaria cases in agency villages for the past four years. This has resulted in a record low of only 62 cases reported so far, compared to the large number of cases in the past. The department has conducted pyrethroid spraying in 444 villages and is now conducting spraying in 249 villages depending on the number of cases reported.
An action plan has been sent for approval to conduct synthetic pyrethroid spraying in 26 sub-centres within 19 PHCs of the district from June 15. The spraying will be carried out in two phases over a period of 45 days and Rs 20 lakh will be paid as wages to the staff who conduct the spraying. The department has one tonne of synthetic pyrethroid available and three more measures are being taken to prevent the spread of malaria.
The number of malaria cases has decreased gradually over the past few years, with 364 cases recorded in 2020, 355 in 2021, and 296 in 2022. This year, only 62 cases have been reported so far. Synthetic pyrethroid will be sprayed in villages if two positive cases out of a thousand people are reported. The Malaria Department is conducting spraying accordingly and this has contributed to the decrease in malaria cases.
To identify silent carriers, officials of the Malaria Department started a positivity survey in different parts of the district on Monday. Positive cases are coming to light through migrant laborers from border States, so positive surveys have been conducted in 173 villages and 79 sub-centres under the jurisdiction of 28 PHCs for the past few years. Samples will be collected from 26,591 people.
District Malaria officer G Venkatesarlu aims to make the district malaria-free by 2027. The department will also conduct rallies, seminars, and awareness programmes in all villages in the district on Tuesday for World Malaria Day.
