Project to be launched across 1,233 villages in Mandla by January 2017
Sun Pharma announced the signing of tri-party agreement between Indian Council of Medical Research, Government of Madhya Pradesh and Foundation for Disease Elimination and Control of India (FDEC-INDIA) to launch the Malaria Free India demonstration project in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh.
The Foundation for Disease Elimination and Control of India (FDEC-INDIA) has been established by Sun Pharma for disease elimination and control initiatives as part of its CSR programme. The Malaria Free India initiative was announced in April 2016 as part of the broader MoU signed between ICMR and Sun Pharma for development of translational health sciences and disease control and elimination.
According to the agreement signed, NIRTH, Government of Madhya Pradesh and FDEC-India, will jointly accomplish the goals of malaria elimination from Mandla district and prevent re-introduction by use of vector control (Indoor residual spray and/ or use of insecticide treated long-lasting bednets (LLINs) and case management (rapid on-the-spot diagnosis and prompt treatment) as per national and/or WHO norms of malaria elimination efforts. FDEC-India will be responsible for implementation of the project in an independent manner in collaboration with NIRTH/ICMR, Government of Madhya Pradesh and all appropriate stakeholders. It will execute the malaria elimination project over a span of three to five years covering 1,233 villages in Mandla district. The Malaria Free India demonstration project in Mandla is expected to be launched by January 2017.
Commenting on the agreement signed, Dilip Shanghvi, MD, Sun Pharma, said, “Sun Pharma has established FDEC-India with a goal to work on health initiatives relevant to national health programme in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders with a view to eliminate and control diseases. The Public-Private-Partnership agreement signed today is an important step towards elimination of Malaria from India by 2030.”
Dr SY Quraishi, Chairman of the Foundation for Disease Elimination and Control of India (FDEC-India) said, “I am pleased that FDEC-India is taking the first step for eliminating malaria in India. With the signing of the agreement with Government of MP and ICMR, we are starting malaria elimination project. The Public-Private-Partnership between FDEC-India, ICMR and Government of Madhya Pradesh is an important strategy to meet health challenges and I hope other organisations will join FDEC-India in this and future health initiatives.”
Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Secretary, Department of Health Research, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India said, “Using field tested and proven tools of vector control, case management by rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment, this programme aims to able to eliminate malaria from Mandla district. Intensive community engagement through community meetings, local markets, school children, women etc will be an important component of this Programme. ICMR will actively participate and extend full logistic and technical support. The lessons learned from this demonstration project will be useful for scaling up malaria elimination program in the rest of the state and the country.”
Dr Pallavi Jain Govil, Commissioner Health, Madhya Pradesh said, “Malaria exerts an enormous economic and social burden on the affected population groups, individuals and communities. Mandla is a tribal dominated district located in the hilly areas and comprises numerous rivers with rich forest. The district is endemic for malaria. The state is already on the way of elimination of malaria in Mandla district, with the interventions as early detection of malaria by rapid diagnostic test and complete treatment of malaria along with effective vector control measures like supply of LLINs in the subcenters with API 5 and above & spray operation in the areas with API 1 to 4.9. Technical support in terms of vector study and epidemiological evaluation of malaria by Indian Council of Medical Research and additional support by FDEC- INDIA in surveillance operation, IEC, behaviour change communication, vector control along with supply of antimalarials would help the state to eliminate malaria from Mandla district. I hope with the intensified joint efforts of all the three partners malaria will be eliminated from Mandla district and would be a presentable model for replication in the other districts of state and other parts of the country.”
EP News Bureau
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