GUWAHATI, May 18 ? Early rainfall this year resulted in early outbreak of malaria in Assam and according to official records alone, altogether 44 persons have died of malaria in different parts of the State, of which 19 were confirmed malaria cases and 25 were suspected cases. As per official records, upto May 17, one person died in Barpeta, one in Darrang, nine in Golaghat, one each in Jorhat and Karbi Anglong, four in Kamrup, three in Kokrajhar, five in Nagaon, three in Nalbari, six in Sonitpur and 10 in Tinsukia.
Talking to The Assam Tribune here today, the Joint Director (Malaria) of the Directorate of Health Services, Dr BK Baishya pointed out that this year malaria broke out earlier than the previous years because of early rainfall. Last year 122 persons died of malaria and it is feared that the death toll may go up this year as the disease broke out earlier. Dr Baishya revealed that since January, altogether 2,30,726 blood samples were collected and 2,27,750 of those tested, of which, 5002 were found to be positive malaria cases. He disclosed that the health department started precautionary measures to prevent the outbreak of the disease from February this year with training of technicians, doctors, malaria workers, distribution of leaflets and booklets among the people of the vulnerable areas to create awareness, health check-up camps etc.
The Joint Director said that spraying of DDT in the high risk areas started early and at present 899 squads, each comprising six persons, have been pressed into service in all the malaria prone areas of the State. He revealed that 1640 metric tonnes of DDT would be sprayed all over the State and the health department has adequate stock of DDT. He also asserted that the health department has enough stock of anti-malarial drugs and tablets are being distributed through the village headmen and some panchayat members as early treatment can prevent malarial deaths. Drug distribution centres and fever treatment depots have been opened in the high risk villages and rapid response teams have been set up in the district headquarters and primary health centres to rush to the affected areas whenever necessary.
Though the Central Government provided 5,20,000 mosquito nets in 2000 and those were distributed last year, most of the nets could not be used. Dr Baishya revealed that the nets were found to be of inferior quality and were very small. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has now started an investigation into the whole affair and seized the nets. However, the medicines provided for medication of the mosquito nets will now be used to medicate the nets owned by the people through the Raijor Padulit Raijor Sarkar (RPRS) programme and the Central Government has already accorded necessary permission for the same.
Last year during a visit to the malaria-hit Tamulpur area this correspondent witnessed the sufferings of the affected people due to shortage of doctors and the problem still exists. Dr Baishya also admitted that shortage of doctors is still a major problem in the insurgency-hit areas of the Bodoland Autonomous Council as the doctors posted in those areas are not willing to join their services.
Replying to a question on whether the health department had requested the municipal boards or town committees to clean up the drains, which are considered to be the breeding ground of mosquitoes, Dr Baishya said: ?it is the duty of the municipalities and town committees to keep the drains clean. We have sprayed insecticides in the drains and other stagnant water bodies to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.?
Dr Baishya also pointed out that despite the efforts to create awareness, the people of some areas, considered to be the high risk zones, do not take the precautionary measures and they even do not take the tablets provided. There are also instances where people take treatment from the village quacks rather than coming to doctors and by the time they visit the doctors for treatment of malaria, it is often too late.