The National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP) under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Tripura, is regularly implementing various programs in the hills and villages to prevent and control malaria. As of February this year, a total of 1,53,654 people have been tested for malaria in Tripura, of which 775 were found to be positive for the malaria parasite. All of them have been cured through free comprehensive medical care. According to a Government press release, there has been no malaria death in the state so far this year.
The press release also mentioned, a review meeting of various health programs of the state health and family welfare department was also held on March 13, 2024, under the chairmanship of L.S. Chawngthu,the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM). The meeting discussed the progress of the NVBDCP in Tripura and the state's target of achieving malaria-free status by 2027.
Meantime, a three-day regional review meeting on vector-borne diseases (VBDs) has been organized in Agartala, Tripura, from March 14 to 16, 2024. The meeting is being held under the aegis of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) and is being attended by representatives from seven northeastern states, as well as Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.
The meeting was inaugurated by L.S. Chawngthu. The meeting will discuss various aspects of VBDs, including their prevention and control, and review the progress of the NVBDCP in the participating states.
The event was also attended by Rajiv Majhi, Joint Secretary, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Kiran Gitte, Secretary, State Health and Family Welfare Department, B Kaur, Additional Secretary, State Health and Family Welfare Department, Dr. Tanu Jain, Director, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Sanjib Debbarma, Director of Health Services, Dr. Anjan Das, Director of Family Welfare and Disease Control, BB Das, Joint Mission Director, National Health Mission, Tripura, among others.
The NVBDCP is a centrally sponsored scheme that aims to control six major VBDs in India: malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis (JE), kala-azar, and lymphatic filariasis. In Tripura, malaria, dengue, and JE are the most prevalent VBDs.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Chawngthu emphasized the need to provide quality healthcare services to the people, especially in rural and remote areas. He also stressed the importance of community participation in VBD control programs.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Rajiv Majhi, Joint Secretary, NVBDCP, MoHFW, visited the Agartala Government Medical College and GB Hospital, ABV Regional Cancer Hospital where he interacted with patients and reviewed the facilities available at the hospital.