A Study of Malaria in Chhattisgarh State of India

Background: In 2019, Chhattisgarh contributed 2.29% of the population of India and 18% of Malaria cases in the country. Bastar Division contributed 76% of cases in the state. Objectives: To study the distribution of Malaria in Chhattisgarh and measures being adopted by the state government to tackle it. Methods: Analysis of the annual reports of the Malaria Division of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP). Also, an analysis of NVBDCP annual reports from Chhattisgarh’s Department of Health website. In addition, a web search was made of reports pertaining to the recently held “Malaria-Mukt Bastar Abhiyan” campaigns held in Chhattisgarh. Results: The impact of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 campaigns were as follows. In the year prior to November 2019, there were 5272 cases of Malaria in the Bastar region. During the next year until November 2020, there were only 2696 cases. In other words, there was a reduction of about half in the number of Malaria cases. Conclusion: Therefore, some beneficial effects of these campaigns emerged in that the reservoirs of the malarial parasite, which is, the humans were effectively treated thereby reducing the number of those persons who could be sources of infection to the female Anopheline mosquito.