Arunachal Pradesh declares 16 districts malaria-free, sets national benchmark in disease control

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 10, 2025

In a major milestone for public health, 16 districts of Arunachal Pradesh have been declared malaria-free, marking a significant achievement in the state’s ongoing fight against vector-borne diseases. The announcement came during the three-day State Review Meeting on Malaria, which began on Monday at Hotel Dhassang, Naharlagun and will continue until March 12.

The event, chaired by Dr KT Mulung, Deputy Director of Health Services-cum-State Programme Officer (SPO), NCVBDC, was attended by top health officials, including Dr LS Singh (Senior CMO, RoH&FW, Shillong), Marge Sora (MD, NHM), and Dr Marbom Basar (Director, Family Welfare).

Key achievements in malaria control are Annual Parasite Index (API) below 1, indicating effective disease control, no malaria-related deaths in the last eight years, showcasing the success of prevention programs, recognition by the Government of India in 2022 as one of the best-performing states in malaria elimination and two additional districts declared malaria-free between 2022-2024, raising the total to 16 malaria-free districts.

Dr LS Singh emphasized maintaining a high Annual Blood Examination Rate (ABER) above 7 for early detection and control.

He emphasized for proper distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) and cross-border disease monitoring were highlighted as crucial to preventing malaria resurgence.

He also added that transition to digital surveillance (IHIP) will replace paper-based reporting, improving data accuracy and response times.

Discussions also focused on the growing dengue threat, with plans to declare it a notifiable disease to enhance monitoring and control efforts.

Commending the NVBDCP team, Dr Marbom Basar stressed the need for early detection, proactive surveillance, and data-driven interventions. He urged districts to share best practices and adopt local innovations to maintain malaria-free zones.

Mission Director (NHM) Dr Marge Sora warned that complacency in malaria control could lead to outbreaks, emphasizing performance-based funding and efficient resource management for sustainable disease elimination.

The State Review Meeting concluded with a strong commitment to keeping Arunachal Pradesh malaria-free, reinforcing its position as a national leader in disease control and public health excellence.