Almost 38,000 malaria cases in Sindh during 2014

KARACHI- As many as 37,737 malaria cases have been reported throughout the Sindh province in 2014 and the Malaria Control Program Sindh has successfully brought the number of cases down by 50 percent, as compared to last year, claimed the Director, Malaria Control Program Sindh - Dr Naheed Jamali.

Dr Naheed Jamali said; Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease and its outbreak takes place after monsoon rains, due to which thousands of people fell sick every year. She said malaria cases were common in rural areas of Sindh province, while dengue cases were generally reported from the urban areas.

She said; The malaria cases have declined 50 percent in the province, over the last year, as compared to 2013. Program management brings down the falciparum ratio to 15 percent against the target set by management earlier to bring the ratio down to 20 percent. She said not a single death was reported due to malaria in the last year.
Only 1,743 malaria cases were detected in 2014 from 35 microscopic centers established in Karachi city, for treatment of malaria patients. She said; A significantly reduced number of malaria cases were reported in Karachi, according to the ratio of its population.

She pointed out that; Four districts of Sindh - Thatta, Khairpur, Dadu, Mirpurkhas and Tharparker were the worst affected by malaria in the province. Hundreds of mosquito nets were distributed Free of cost, in high-risk areas of the province.

Under the malaria control program in Sindh, including Karachi; 510 microscopic centers are operating, where malaria patients are treated free of cost, while 118 rapid diagnostic centers are also functional in various parts of Sindh province for malaria patients.

She explained that; The data of malaria patients collected from diagnostic centers, was shared with the district level malaria superintendents on a monthly basis, then this data is provided to the Provincial Malaria Control Program.