Delhi: Malaria may get notifiable disease tag in city soon

New Delhi: Delhi government is likely to declare malaria a notifiable disease soon. When a disease is declared notifiable, it is required by law to report every case to the government. The collation of information by the authorities helps in better monitoring of the disease and giving an early warning of a possible outbreak.

In a videoconference meeting held by Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday, where minister of state for health and family welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey, lieutenant governor Anil Baijal and Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain were also present besides others, Dr Harsh Vardhan emphasised on the need to make malaria a notifiable disease so that each and every case of malaria could be tracked and treated and the transmission could be identified. This issue was taken up with Delhi government last year also, the minister stated.

“Delhi had originally planned to eliminate Malaria in 2020. The deadline has now been shifted to 2022,” the minister said, adding that capturing actual data from the hospitals and taking preventive actions in the areas of infection is critical to achieve elimination. “So is the regular reporting from the private sector essential for taking timely preventive measures and for accuracy of data pertaining to incidence of malaria,” Vardhan said.

The process of notification is underway, an official said. Notification is necessary to bring all malaria cases on the state radar because after notification the private health facilities are mandated to report all malaria cases they treat to the local health authorities.

The LG stated that Delhi can’t afford to have an outbreak of malaria, dengue or chikungunya during Covid-19 pandemic. “The three municipal corporations will spearhead the action on controlling vector in their localities,” he added.