Bhubaneswar: The World Malaria Day is celebrated every year on April 25 to raise awareness about the disease, how to control it, and how to eradicate it completely. In 2008, the first Malaria Day was celebrated, which was developed from Africa Malaria Day, which was an event observed since 2001 by the African governments.
At the 60th session of the World Health Assembly in 2007, it was proposed that Africa Malaria Day be changed to World Malaria Day. India’s goal of eliminating malaria by 2030 may appear at first glance to be easily attainable. Reported cases of the disease dropped by around half between 2001 and 2016 and, in nearly three-quarters of India’s more than 650 districts, the number of people falling ill from malaria is very low.
But India’s path towards elimination has proven to be particularly difficult in the remote and rugged tribal areas where malaria is one of the most common health problems. Odisha, once the epicenter of India’s malaria burden, has achieved a massive reduction in cases through strategies like the DAMaN program. However, tribal districts continue to report a high burden. In 2024, significant malaria outbreaks were reported, with 83% of cases concentrated in seven districts including Kalahandi and Kandhamal, indicating ongoing challenges in elimination efforts.
Trends and Status (2023-2024):
Malaria cases in Odisha rose significantly in 2024, with 68,693 cases reported compared to 41,973 in 2023, reversing a trend of decline. Seven tribal districts—Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, and Mayurbhanj—are major hotspots. There is a rising trend of Plasmodium vivax (PV) malaria, with cases increasing from 2019 to 2023. Malaria-related deaths were 6 in 2024, compared to 4 in 2023.
Key Control Initiatives:
DAMaN (Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran): A targeted initiative to eliminate malaria in hard-to-reach, inaccessible villages, which includes aggressive screening and treatment.
LLIN Distribution: Universal distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) in high-endemic areas.
Surveillance: Intensified doorstep testing and surveillance, particularly in tribal residential schools.
Challenges:
Hidden Burden: A large proportion of cases, particularly those detected during mass screenings, are not always captured in the main national surveillance system, potentially underestimating the total burden.
Asymptomatic Reservoirs: The existence of asymptomatic malaria cases makes it difficult to completely break the transmission cycle.
Persistent Endemicity: Despite the drastic overall reduction since 2017, the disease persists in specific geographical areas.