A mutated malaria parasite resistant to many of the drugs, which had been found in Southeast Asia and parts of China, was recently detected in areas as close as 25 km on the Myanmar side bordering Nagaland.
Health & Family welfare commissioner & secretary Y Kikheto Sema said this at a programme organised to observe “World Malaria Day 2023” at directorate of H&FW here Tuesday on the theme “Time to deliver zero malaria: Invest, Innovate, Implement”.
Referring to a 2015 study published in the Lancet, about the worrying spread of drug-resistant malaria in Myanmar close to the border with India, Kikheto stressed the urgency to eliminate malaria as soon as possible. The role of experts and research scientists is crucial for a new medicine to fight against the new malaria, he asserted.
He said that the new malaria reportedly found in the Mekong region in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, parts of China and Myanmar was an open challenge to the malaria drugs. “The new malaria is resistant to many of our drugs and therefore the available medicines are not in a position to treat the new emerging disease which is not far away from us,” Kikheto said.
In this regard, he urged all the doctors and researchers that it was a crucial moment and that now was the time to invent a new medicine to fight against the disease.
“In our journey to a free-malaria world by 2030, we need awareness campaigns and cleanliness drives with the active participation of all section of the people,” he said.
Kikheto said with the efforts and intervention from the government positive cases and deaths caused by malaria had been reduced drastically over the years in the country.
He said in 1953 positive cases of malaria stood at 7.50 crores with 8 lakh deaths.
However, this was brought down to 45,000 cases with 50 deaths throughout the country in 2022.
Kikheto informed that the highest positive case detected in Nagaland was 8,489 in 2009 while the darkest year was in 2006 when a total of 75 deaths due to the virus was reported.
However, with the initiative of the department and the programme and district officers, he said that there had been no malaria related deaths since 2018 till date.
Kikheto stated during regional council meeting and review of malaria by eight states recently, Nagaland emerged as the best in terms of initiatives taken and the best performing in the whole of Northeast India.
In this regard, Kikheto congratulated all the officers of the department especially the National Health Mission and officials in-charge of vector borne diseases.
He stressed on the need to create awareness in the minds of the people about the devastating effects on health, socio economic consequences because of malaria.
“It is our responsibility to fight against this and to eliminate this disease. To achieve our goal, we need strong coordination, political support and coordination,” he said.
Kikheto sought the support of the line departments, institutions, public, NGOs and faith-based organisations since H&FW department alone could not do it. “It should be a mass movement,” he added.
He said the world was aiming to eradicate malaria by 2020-30 and similarly Nagaland had also made it its mission to follow suit.
The programme was chaired by mission director, NHM, Dr Ritu Thurr while principal director, H&FW, Dr Vibeituonuo M Sachü, gave the opening remarks.
State programme officer, NVBDCP, Dr Neisakho Kere gave a programme overview while vote of thanks was proposed by deputy director, NVBDCP, Dr Tinurenla Anichari.
During the event, top three best Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) under Kohima district was awarded to Chichabeni (Lerie SC), Temsujungla (AG SC), Keneiphrenuo (Rüsoma SC).