Kurukshetra making efforts to achieve malaria-free dist status

After reporting zero malaria cases in the last four years, the Health Department is aiming at getting malaria-free district status for Kurukshetra.

As per the Health Department officials, no malaria case has been reported in Kurukshetra since 2021 and efforts are being made to maintain the status, meanwhile, the department has decided to start the process of applying for national certification to get Kurukshetra declared malaria-free.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the District Malaria Working Committee, including officials from the district administration and Health Department, was held on Monday.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Sonu Bhatt said, “The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had started the National Framework for Malaria Elimination from February 2016 to eliminate malaria from the entire country by 2030. Due to the sincere efforts made, no malaria case has been reported in Kurukshetra since 2021 and the Health Department will apply for national certification to get malaria-free district status for Kurukshetra. Directions have been issued to the departments concerned to complete the work to be done for malaria prevention in a timely manner.”

Additional Deputy Commissioner Sonu Bhatt directed the officials of the Urban Local Bodies to get fogging done in areas under the Municipal Council and Municipal committees in the district. The Public Health Engineering Department was also asked to run a special drive to repair damaged waterpipes to ensure no leakage. The officials of the PWD (B&R) were also asked to ensure no waterlogging.

During the meeting the Education Department, officials were asked to make children aware of malaria and its prevention in schools. The District Panchayat and Development Department officials have been directed to ensure availability of fogging machines in every gram panchayat. At present, out of 403 panchayats in the district, only 280 have machines. The ADC directed the Fisheries Department to provide Gambusia fish for waterbodies in the urban and rural areas.

District Civil Surgeon Dr Sukhbir said rapid response teams had been formed at the district level, CHC level and PHC level. Last year, the Health Department had issued notices to 1,240 houses after finding larvae. The department has prepared a micro plan for the prevention of diseases.

On the occasion, District Municipal Commissioner Satinder Siwach, District Education Officer Santosh Sharma, District Elementary Education Officer Vinod Kaushik, Epidemiologist Dr Bindu Rai and officials of other departments were present.

Haryana Tribune