Year Ender 2024: India has been hit by 3 diseases this year, know what is the target till 2030
Malaria, Kala-azar and Lymphatic Filariasis: India has achieved several targets for cases and deaths of vector-borne diseases like malaria, kala-azar, lymphatic filariasis. The government gave this information on Saturday. The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) is responsible for the prevention and control of these diseases.
India has achieved success against 4 diseases
1. Reduce
the burden of malaria According to the Ministry of Health, India has made considerable progress in reducing the burden of malaria and has achieved a reduction of 80.53 per cent in malaria cases and 78.38 per cent in malaria deaths between 2015 and 2023. In 2024 (till October – provisional data), there has been an increase of 13.66 per cent in malaria cases and a 32.84 per cent reduction in malaria deaths. This year, surveillance has also been increased in 23 states till October. India's target is to eliminate malaria by 2030.
2. Decline
in Kala-azar cases The Health Ministry further said that in 2024, there has been a decrease of 22.18 per cent in the cases of Kala-azar in the country. Till October, about 421 cases of Kala-azar have been reported. At the same time, 541 cases were reported in the same period of 2023. Interestingly, the country is maintaining the elimination target in the 633 endemic blocks achieved by the end of 2023.
The government has maintained the elimination status till date with zero number of endemic blocks reporting more than 1 case per 10,000 population at the block level, the ministry said.
3. Reduction in Lymphatic Filariasis In addition, the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis has seen 94 percent coverage among the eligible population in 2024.
In 2023, the MDA campaign reached 82 per cent coverage nationally.
Under the National Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis, the MDA campaign reported coverage in 1,634 blocks of 159 districts in 13 states. According to the ministry, the MDA in these areas was conducted in two phases. Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a serious, crippling, and debilitating disease, spread by the bite of the Culex mosquito.
It mostly thrives in tropical areas, which the Indian government has set a target to eliminate before the global target of 2030. Of the 345 endemic districts, 159 districts in 13 states have reported microfilariasis (MF) rate of more than 1 per cent, the ministry said. Around 3,38,087 morbidity management and disability prevention kits were given to lymphoedema patients and 64,706 hydrocellectomy surgeries were performed.
4. Vaccination against Japanese Encephalitis