Scientist-D,
ICMR-VCRC, Puducherry
Title of the project: Tracking the elimination of malaria in Odisha State: Evidence to corroborate the decline of malaria to the status of zero transmission
Summary:
Odisha State having only 3.6% of the country's total population (n=1,362,015,566), contributed to 41.9% of total malaria cases, 55.8% of Plasmodium falciparum cases and 24.3% of total malaria deaths recorded in India. Among the 30 districts of the State, eleven southern districts, having a population of 12,857,902 (as per 2011 census), are affected with high incidence of malaria since many years. These districts alone reported 66.5% of the malaria cases and 52.0% of the malaria deaths of the state in 2017. The National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control NCVBDC (erstwhile NVBDCP) has been implementing the five-year (2017-2022) National Strategic Plan for malaria elimination in Odisha State from 2017.
The 85% reduction in malaria incidences in 2018 (compared to 2016) has given hope for the elimination of malaria in Odisha State before 2030. If this trend of reduction of malaria incidence continues, malaria free Odisha State would be an achievable target by 2030. Therefore, a research-based supporting evidences for the declining trend of malaria is proposed to be generated through entomological, parasitological and socioeconomic studies through tracking the processes of elimination of malaria to corroborate with its decline over the years. The outcome of the study would enable to adopt the model to other malaria endemic areas of the country. If any important scientific gaps or challenges or demands pertaining to the malaria elimination would be identified from this study, it will be addressed properly by designing necessary strategy. This will serve as an evidence base for certification of the State of Odisha for malaria free status.
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