Bhubaneswar: Odisha government is planning to set up a malaria research centre in Koraput district. The centre is expected to play a significant role in fighting malaria, which assumes epidemic proportions in tribal-dominated areas of the state, said health minister Pratap Jena on Wednesday.
Addressing a state-level function organised by National Vector-borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) on the occasion of World Malaria Day, by directorate of health services in collaboration with Tata Trusts at Jaydev Bhawan here, the minister said, “The proposed centre will be used for research purposes with regard to prevalence of malaria and mosquitoes.”
Expressing his happiness that malaria-related deaths had come down in the state owing to scaling up of various malaria prevention and control measures by the government, Jena highlighted that the steps initiated by Odisha government towards controlling the vector-borne disease have been appreciated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Government of India.
Among others, special secretary of (public health), health and family welfare department, Dr Jnanindra Kumar Tripathy, joint director (public health), NVBDCP (Odisha) Sher Singh Kashyotia and managing director of Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited Archana Patnaik were present.
On the occasion, the minister unveiled the annual report of NVBDCP, road map for malaria elimination and other documents of the NVBDP programme.
