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Malaria set to be notifiable disease across India even as cases show a decline

Malaria set to be notifiable disease across India even as cases show a decline

  • Malaria is all set to become a notifiable disease across India
  • States like Bihar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Meghalaya are also in the process of putting the vector-borne disease in the category.
  • This will require by law that cases be reported to government authorities.
  • Currently, malaria is a notifiable disease in 33 States and Union Territories in India.

Reasons for declaring it a notifiable disease

  • The objective is to eliminate the disease by 2030 as a part of India’s vision to be malaria-free by 2027
  • The Health Ministry has also initiated a joint action plan with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for malaria elimination in tribal areas.

Status of Malaria in India

  • It is not just a public health issue but also a social, economic, and political challenge that requires the cooperation of all stakeholders.
  • India is the only high-burden, high-impact country in the southeast Asia region to report a decline in malaria cases in 2020 as compared to 2019.
  • India witnessed a 85.1% decline in malaria cases and 83.36% decline in deaths during 2015-2022.
  • There is now availability of near-real time data monitoring through an integrated health information platform (HIP-Malaria Portal)
  • Periodic regional review meetings are held to keep a check on malaria growth across India.

Suggestions to check spread of disease

  • Countries affected by malaria should accelerate the reach of high-impact tools and strategies to prevent, detect and treat it.
  • Intensified efforts must be made to reach at-risk and vulnerable populations with currently available strategies and tools.

Prelims Take away

  • Neglected Tropical Diseases
  • Notified diseases

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