Malaria-Free India By 2030

It is a target, it is a milestone, it is a national framework of India. Yes, India has set the deadline of eliminating malaria by 2030. 

Indian Health minister J P Nadda launched the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016-2030, on Feb 11, 2016. To implement the task India is committed to building infrastructure and allocating finance. Times of India reported on Feb 13, 2016 that the first target is to eliminate malaria from all low (category 1) and moderate (category 2) endemic states by 2022.  The second objective is to reduce incidence of malaria in 31 states by 2024. By 2027, the country will prevent indigenous transmission of malaria, is the third strategy. In the final and crucial stage, the government will interrupt all kinds of re-establishment of malaria in the malaria eliminated regions by 2030. 

To improve health and quality of life and the alleviate poverty the framework has been developed, Shri J P Nadda said. The minister also said that the NFME document has goals, objectives, strategies, targets and timelines which will serve as a road-map to advocate and plan malaria elimination in India in a phased manner (Prevention of reintroduction, Elimination, Pre-elimination and Intensified control).

Terming the launch as historic the speakers on the occasion highlighted the importance of segmented approach and community mobilization and sustenance in tackling the issue. According to government estimates, nearly 1 million malaria cases are reported every year from all around India. The government of India has another concern for vector borne diseases which are not present in its neighboring countries such as Srilanka and Nepal.

Malaria, a mosquito borne infectious disease which causes fever, fatigue, vomiting and headaches at early stage and can be very fatal with yellow skin, seizures, coma or death. A microscopic parasite called Plasmodium which is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquito is responsible for malaria. Malaria is widespread in the tropical and subtropical regions. In 2015, malaria killed more than 438,000 people worldwide. Almost 90% of deaths occurred in Africa.