The government plans to bring over 80 community clinics in 13 malaria-prevalent districts under malaria treatment coverage by June this year.
“Initially, we’ll inaugurate the treatment services at a community clinic at Moulovibazar district on Friday, ahead of the World Malaria Day,” Prof BeNazir Ahmed, disease control and line director, CDC, DGHS, said on Tuesday.
He was speaking at a press conference at the auditorium of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Capt (retd) Mozibur Rahman Fakir will inaugurate the service.
The press conference was arranged to brief the media about the malaria situation in the country, achievements so far in controlling malaria and plans for the future. Associate Director of the BRAC Health Programme Dr Akramul Islam, among others, was present.
World Malaria Day will be observed with the theme “Invest in the Future: Defeat Malaria,” on Thursday.
Expressing satisfaction over the achievements during the last few years, Prof Ahmed said, “There should be a continuation of investments, not only financial but also physical and human investments so that the achievements can be sustained.”
If malaria control does not get due attention, he said, the situation will turn worse as in the past.
Ahmed also said they will seek military support to continue malaria control programmes in remote areas of the three hill districts -- Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban. “We’re expecting a meeting with military personnel soon.”
Responding to a question, Be-Nazir Ahmed said they need to train people for providing malaria treatment to launch the service in all the 80 community clinics together.
In response to another question, he said malaria is virtually prevailing in 13 districts and some other places and it occurs due to imported malaria.
He appreciated government-non-government collaboration, aiming to achieve the target of 2015 before the deadline.
The government has a target to reduce the number of malaria infected people and death tolls by 60 percent within 2015 compared to 2008. The target has already achieved.
The number of deaths due to malaria came down to 11 in 2012 compared to 154 in 2008, data shows.
The health officials sought cooperation from the media to help control malaria in the country.
