Govt of India holds 'Malaria Elimination Workshop' for 15 States & UT's at Chandigarh

Chandigarh, February 9, 2017: Department of Health & Family Welfare, Punjab launched "Malaria Elimination campaign 2017-2021” as a roadmap for Malaria Elimination in the State by 2021. 15 States and UTs are taking part in the 3 days workshop, which has been organized at the behest of Govt. of India.
The event was inaugurated by Ms.Vini Mahajan, Additional Chief Secretary (Health), Punjab whereas Dr.Henk Bekedam Country Representative WHO was guest of honour. Sh.Navdeep Rinwa Joint Secretary, Govt of India, Dr.AC Dhaliwal Director National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Govt of India, Dr.Meena Valecha Director National Institute of Malaria Research, Sh.Hussan Lal Secretary Health cum Mission Director National Health Mission, Punjab, Dr.Sujata Sharma Director Research & Medical Education, Punjab & Dr.HS Bali, Director Health Services, Punjab were present.
Smt. Vini Mahajan informed the house that State of Punjab has notified Malaria under Epidemic Disease Act for essential reporting of each case of Malaria. She informed that Punjab is the first State which is using Malaria Treatment Cards for monitoring of every case of Malaria being reported in the State. She stated that State has constituted State Level & District Level monitoring Committees under Chief Secretary & DC’s respectively. Moreover State has also constituted a Technical Expert Group at State level with representative from NVBDCP, WHO, NIMR, PGI and Social sectors to help the State of Punjab in achieving the target. She also emphasized that surveillance & test of Malaria has been extended upto village level.
Dr. Henk Bekedam extended the support of WHO to state for Malaria Elimination. He informed that WHO has great experience in surveillance as far as polio is concerned and has vast network in the state and country. The experience of WHO in polio can be extended to the state for Malaria Elimination. He also stated that WHO can help the state in micro-planning of Malaria Elimination in the state.
Sh Navdeep Rinwa, Joint Secretary, GOI stated that Punjab will act as a model state for others to follow in achievement of goal of Malaria Elimination. Sh. Hussan Lal, MD-NHM informed that Punjab is committed for Malaria Elimination as actual case load of Malaria has declined in the State & only 65 villages has API more than 1.
Dr. AC Dhaliwal informed that GOI launched National Framework for Malaria Elimination to achieve Malaria Elimination by 2030. Dr. Sujata Sharma DRME reflected the Collaboration efforts of both the departments surveillance & Capacity building. Dr. Neena Valecha stated that NIMR had established a field unit in the state which will help in establishing surveillance for Malaria. She also informed that ICMR has approved a study to know the actual case load of Malaria in Punjab. Dr. Rajesh, Prof. PGI offered all support to state in capacity building and technical support to the state. On this occasion, the document of Malaria Elimination of Punjab & Web Portal of Malaria reporting for Punjab was released.