'Zero malaria starts with me'

Warangal: Notwithstanding the dramatic turnaround in the fight against malaria, the preventable disease is still a cause of concern.

Although the country has made a significant progress in keeping a tab on malaria in the past two decades, several challenges remained due to critical operational gaps in service access especially to those vulnerable sections in high transmission areas.

As the world observes 'Malaria Day' on Thursday (April 25), a critical look at the malady indicates that there is still a need for improved tools and approaches for disease surveillance, diagnosis, treatment and vector control.

A peek into the measures taken by the Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) in its fight against the malaria reveals that the urban local body appears to be on right track to achieve 'Zero malaria starts with me' - the theme of the World Malaria Day 2019.

The sewage disposal is a massive challenge in a city like Warangal that is expanding leaps and bounds. The GWMC, which ensured public toilets and She toilets across the tri-cities of Warangal-Hanamkonda-Kazipet, has also set up a sanitation resource park (SRP), in association with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad, as its knowledge partner, through a public-private partnership (PPP) model at Ammavaripet village to deal with faecal sludge.

The SRP, which houses two models of the faecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP), has now become a beacon in faecal sludge management in the country. Even it drew the attention of Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India, who recently on a visit to Warangal to study the models.

"The fight against malaria will continue," N Ravi Kumar, GWMC Municipal Commissioner said, speaking to The Hans India on the eve of World Malaria Day. "It's high time that denizens cooperate with the administration in keeping their premises and neighbourhoods clean and dry so that to keep mosquitoes at bay. People need to complement the efforts of municipal administration in maintaining hygienic environs," he said. Referring to the measures undertaken by the civic body, Municipal Health Officer B Raja Reddy said: "The onus is on citizens to take anti-larvae precautions. They can call on sanitation helpline toll free number (1800 425 1980) for any queries or help pertaining to sanitation-related issues."