Malaria will soon be a notifiable disease across India

Introduction:

• Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
• India has a vision to be malaria-free by 2027 and eliminate the disease by 2030.

Malaria to be a Notifiable Disease

• Malaria is all set to become a notifiable disease across India, with Bihar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Meghalaya in the process of putting this vector-borne disease in the category.

Joint Action Plan for Malaria Elimination in Tribal Areas

• The Health Ministry has initiated a joint action plan with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for malaria elimination in tribal areas.

Decline in Malaria Cases in India

• India was the only high-burden, high-impact country in the South-East Asia region to report a decline in malaria cases in 2020 as compared to 2019. India witnessed 85.1% decline in malaria cases and 83.36% decline in deaths during 2015-2022.

Efforts to Prevent Malaria

• The Health Ministry has put in place an integrated health information platform (HIP-Malaria Portal) for near-real time data monitoring and periodic regional review meetings to keep a check on malaria growth across India.

WHO Regional Director’s View on Malaria Elimination

• Poonam Khetrapal Singh, World Health Organisation regional director, South-East Asia, said that countries affected by malaria in this region should accelerate the reach of high-impact tools and strategies to prevent, detect and treat malaria, with a focus on reaching the most vulnerable, ensuring that no person or population is left behind.

Conclusion:

• The Indian government’s efforts to combat malaria through the implementation of a notifiable disease status across the country, combined with an ambitious goal to be malaria-free by 2027 and eliminate the disease by 2030, is a significant step forward in improving public health. The availability of real-time data monitoring through an integrated health information platform and periodic regional review meetings will help to keep a check on malaria growth across India. It is crucial that high-impact tools and strategies to prevent, detect, and treat malaria reach the most vulnerable and at-risk populations, ensuring that no person or population is left behind. With sustained efforts, India can achieve the global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030 and the Sustainable Development Goal targets, and deliver on the promise of zero malaria for everyone, everywhere.