Gandhinagar, April 25 (IANS). Gujarat Health Department said on Saturday that in the last 10 years, there has been a decline of about 92 percent in the cases of malaria. On the occasion of World Malaria Day, the department stressed on continuous surveillance and prevention efforts.
This day, celebrated every year on 25 April by the World Health Organization, is celebrated with the aim of raising awareness about malaria control and ensuring active participation of the community.
This year’s theme ‘Decided to End Malaria: Now We Can, Now We Must’ focuses on accelerating efforts towards completely eliminating malaria.
According to the department, comprehensive measures have been implemented in both rural and urban areas. These include door-to-door surveillance, checking for fever, conducting anti-larva campaigns, inspecting construction sites, testing the blood of workers and releasing larva-eating fish into stagnant water sources.
Malaria testing and treatment is being provided free of cost at all government health centres.
Data shared by officials shows that more than 1.81 lakh fever patients were screened in 2025 and those found positive were given immediate treatment.
Malaria positivity rate has been recorded at less than one per 1 thousand population in all the districts and municipal corporations. As a result, Gujarat has moved from Category-2 to Category-1 under the Malaria Elimination Framework.
Health officials said malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasite and is spread by the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, which mainly breed in clean and stagnant water.
Its symptoms include severe chills, fever with shivering, headache, body ache, nausea or vomiting and excessive sweating after the fever subsides.
The department has also conducted awareness campaigns through exhibitions in public places, rallies, educational programs in schools and colleges, social media, television and FM radio to promote prevention measures.
These measures include keeping water utensils covered, not allowing water to accumulate around houses, installing nets on windows, using mosquito nets and getting blood tested immediately in case of fever.
Officials further said, “The only way to prevent malaria is to detect the disease early and get it treated completely.”
–IANS
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