Tripura Health Department To Launch Door-To-Door Malaria Surveillance In Remote Areas

The Health Department of Tripura is preparing to initiate door-to-door surveillance in remote regions across the state to curb malaria cases, as stated by an official. Top officials involved in malaria management have been directed to conduct intensive detection and treatment drives.

Kiran Gitte, Secretary of the Health Department of Tripura, told ANI, “The health department of Tripura will soon start door-to-door surveillance for the detection of malaria in remote pockets of the state.” He mentioned visiting North Tripura and Dhalai districts, where strategies to combat malaria during the upcoming monsoon season were discussed with Chief Medical Officers and district malaria officers.

Gitte elaborated, “Door-to-door surveillance, rapid testing and treatment, use of larvivorous fish, preventive medicinal doses, a special focus on jhumia families, and health camps in villages that are endemic to malaria are some of the key points that had been discussed in detail during the meeting.”

Previously, the Health Secretary conducted a video conference with all eight District Magistrates to review and enhance the government’s malaria prevention action plan. This initiative is timely as the monsoon season, which often sees an increase in vector-borne diseases, approaches.

An official source noted that despite the rising number of malaria cases in Tripura, with over a thousand patients, adequate treatment facilities are being provided in remote areas. The meeting also addressed the swift release of larvivorous fish into reservoirs, the distribution of around nine and a half lakh long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), and the strategic application of larvicides. These efforts are part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the mosquito population and prevent malaria outbreaks.

The National Health Mission’s (NHM) Tripura branch has already started preparing to tackle malaria. Health Secretary Gitte visited North Tripura and Dhalai districts on May 14 and 15, engaging with hospital authorities, local residents, and public representatives to gather insights and direct ground-level efforts. She emphasized the importance of raising awareness through health camps and door-to-door visits in malaria-prone areas.

On May 15, a critical meeting was held by the Health Secretary with NHM Mission Director Rajib Dutta, Joint Director Binay Bhushan Das, Malaria State Programme Officer Dr. Abhijit Das, and other key officials, including Chief Medical Officers, District Malaria Officers, and consultants. The meeting highlighted the need for increased spraying and fogging operations, enhanced malaria testing, especially among children and pregnant women, and raising public awareness about the disease.