Despite a health department drive in 2022 to make Gujarat a malaria-free state, the disease continues to plague the state two years later, with over 6 lakh patients detected with mosquito-related fever in Gujarat.
These cases were reported by a two-phase operation run by the state to identify the mosquito-breeding grounds and cases related to it.
In a drive conducted in June, the health department sprayed insecticide in 45,355 households in 218 villages of 22 districts in Gujarat that were potential breeding grounds for malaria..
In the first phase, a total of 10,578 teams visited 1.31 crore houses, out of which mosquito breeding sites were found in 1.63 lakh houses. Other 3.63 lakh potential mosquito breeding sites were also destroyed.
As many as 2.99 lakh fever patients were identified in the first phase, and their blood samples sent for testing .
In the second phase, 18,065 teams visited 1.43 crore houses. Among them, 1.65 lakh mosquito breeding sites were found in the houses, which were destroyed by the health department teams.
Additionally, 3.54 lakh potential breeding sites were also destroyed. Moreover, 3.02 lakh fever patients were identified.
Notably, the Centre has called for a malaria-free nation by 2030. The health department of the state also aims for zero malaria cases by 2027. However, the ground reality may severely affect these targets.
Gujarat currently has 492 vector control teams working in the state.