Bhubaneswar, Nov. 19: A novel scheme to provide mosquito bed nets to the people to effectively fight malaria was launched by Odisha Government here on Wednesday.
Under the scheme christened `Mo Masahri' (my mosquito net), long lasting insecticidal bed nets (LLIN) would be provided for pregnant women in high burden areas of Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK) districts; students in tribal school hostels and general community in endemic areas as a core strategy for reduction of malaria morbidity and mortality in the state.
The scheme would be implemented under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme by the Health and Family Welfare Department of the state government.
The new malaria control programme is supported by Government of India, National Rural Health Mission and other partners such as World Bank, GFATM, WHO, DFID, T&MST, RMRC, NIMR, VCRC and London School of Tropical Medicine.
The programme has brought in a paradigm shift in the malaria programme strategy since 2008-09, wherein significant changes have been introduced. The advocacy message for the campaign has been kept: `Let us join together and fight malaria'.
Among the new commodities that are being introduced in the programme are rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits, treatment using artesunate combination therapy (ACT) for falciparum malaria and LLINs. While other strategies have been piloted in certain areas of the state earlier, LLINs are being introduced for the first time in the state.
Pregnant women and children under 5 years of age are particularly vulnerable to malaria.
Infection with P. falciparum during pregnancy increases the mother's risk of developing severe disease and anemia, and increases the risk of stillbirth, premature and low birth weight babies.
Premature and low birth weight babies are less likely to survive, thereby contributing to a higher neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate.
It is estimated that acute and severe clinical disease in non-immune pregnant women may result in up to 60 percent fetal loss and over 10 percent maternal deaths, including 50 percent mortality for severe disease.
Each LLIN given to a pregnant woman would effectively protect her during pregnancy and will protect her and her newborn child for 3-4 years.
According to official sources, the distribution of the mosquito bed nets would start in KBK districts on a priority basis. LLINs would be distributed to each ANM as per her previous ANC coverage.