The Punjab Government in collaboration with the World health Organization (W.H.O.) today launched the Micro Strategic Plan to eliminate malaria from State by 2020. The WHO would provide the technical support to State to achieve the set target.Presiding over the meeting, Health & Family Welfare Minister, Punjab Brahm Mohindra said that Punjab becomes the first state in India where WHO will collaborate for Elimination of Malaria. He said that India has third highest burden of malaria in the world however, Punjab reported only 0.1 percent cases of malaria of the country. He said that the case load of malaria has declined in the State since last year but one third of the cases of malaria are reported from the migratory population. He said that State of Punjab is committed for micro level surveillance under which each and every reported case of malaria would be investigated and remedial measures will b undertaken to prevent further spread of Malaria.Mr. Brahm Mohindra said that under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh, the Punjab Government has launched the Mission Tandarust Punjab and established the best infrastructure for the De-Addiction Programme. He assured the WHO team that the Punjab Government would strictly comply with all the guidelines issued in this regard and Punjab would emerge as a model State for other States of country.
He also thanked Dr. Henk Bekdam, WHO (representative to India) for selection of Punjab as first State for this collaboration.Dr. Henk Bekdam said that Punjab is one of the 15 low transmission States of India where only 0.1 percent cases of malaria had been reported as compared to the rest of the country. He said that there is a need of participation of communities and general public as well for prevention and control of Malaria and he expressed that he was hopeful that Punjab can be the first State in country to achive the target to eliminate malaria by 2020.Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Mr. Satish Chandra said that special training would be imparted to the district level monitoring teams under this strategic plan. He said that under the chairmanship of Health Minister, State Task Force would monitor the every reported case regarding the malaria to control the outbreak. He said that quick diagnose and quick treatment would be provided to the effected patient.Mission Director NHM Mr. Amit Kumar, Additional Director NVBDCP Govt of India Dr Neeraj Dhingra, Dr Nicole Seguy, Team Leader Communicable Diseases (WHO), Dr. Roop Kumari NPO (WHO), Dr. Jaspal Kaur Director Health Services Punjab, Dr. Gagandeep Singh Grover, State Programme Officer NVBDCP and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.