When it comes to our health care system, malaria may not pose the same challenges as dengue, but nevertheless, remains an issue. Every year, we see thousands of people get infected with this disease resulting in at least a few deaths. In the last few years, the number of people who have died from this disease has been in the double digits. These are all preventable deaths, and the fact that we still haven’t been able to eradicate this scourge should be a matter of national concern.
On that note, it is extremely distressing that our malaria elimination program has been termed as outdated. Experts have said that the current program needs to be updated as soon as possible and we need to stop following the same procedures we followed in 2015 at the latest.
Even more of an issue is the allegation that there are no entomologists working in city corporations or at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR). Neighbouring countries like the Maldives and Sri Lanka have been able to eradicate malaria by employing a strong group of entomologists. While the DGHS has over 20 entomologists, they mostly got promoted from technician posts, which can hardly count. This mismanagement when it comes to the eradication of this disease is a symptom of a greater problem where all of our issues get entangled and enlarged due to our administrative and bureaucratic structure.
Suffice to say, this can’t be the way. At the least, diseases such as malaria can no longer be a threat. Failure is not an excuse and not an option.
The authorities have to make some changes. They need to assess the situation, talk with experts, and redraw the current malaria eradication plan. Proper entomologists have to be employed and our health care apparatus has to be disentangled away from the tapes of bureaucracy.