Malaria is 5th killer disease in the country and 2nd major public health problem of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and that is why there is dire need of adopting inter-sectoral approach to evolve an efficient and effective strategy to combat the disease.
This was the outcome of the one-day orientation workshop for stakeholders arranged by Malaria Control Programme(MCP), KPK at Provincial Health Services Academy, Peshawar. Representatives of medical colleges, different universities, PPHI, Public Health Engineering, Metrology, media and international agencies attended the workshop, Dr Khalid Iqbal, Director, MCP, Dr Zaman Afridi, Director PHSA, Dr Salim Khan, Dr Asif, Dr Iftikhar, Dr Naeem Durrani made presentation on various aspects of the disease.
Khalid Iqbal, Director, Malaria Control Programme (MCP) while highlighting aims and objectives of the workshop said that malaria, was affecting human being, causing morbidity and mortality and resulting huge loss to the national economy. He went on to say that malaria was contributing to the disease burden of the country and there was need of taking society on board to adopt comprehensive prevention strategy against the disease. "We are here to explore ways and means for controlling consequences of the lethal bite of malaria vector Anopheles", he maintained.
Zaman Afridi, Director PHSA said that multi sect oral co-operation was must to halt spread of malaria, reduce its burden and ensure good health of the community. He urged academicians to work for the welfare of the society by finding out effective ways of eradication of the disease. Underlining the need of community sensitisation and human resource mobilisation, he hoped that the disease would be wiped out because its root cause had been identified.
Dr Salim Khan Deputy Director, MCP said that 14 districts of the province were at high risk in the context of malaria. Explaining salient features of the programme, he informed that reducing the reported cases of malaria to 50 % by 2015, adoption of vector barrier approach, capacity building and establishment of diagnostic facilities were among the main objectives of the programme.
Referring to the achievements of the programme, he told that apart from establishment of 70 new microscopic centres, 12000 Rapid Diagnostic Kits to health out lets and 20000 Insecticidal Mosquito nets were distributed among pregnant women and children in the province. "Medics and Para-medics were trained in case management while linkages had also been established with TB control Programme for microscopic examination of malaria slides", he informed.
Disclosing future plan, he said that provision of Insecticidal Mosquito Nets to the target population, mechanism for behaviour change communication (BCC), getting support of media and establishing of linkages with the stake holders were planned to get the dream of controlling malaria true in the province.
The participants deliberated over proper regulations for ensuring quality anti malarial drugs, inclusion new diagnosis and treatment protocol of malaria in the curriculum of post and under graduate level, carrying out research on malaria, procurement of standard drugs, and strict implementation of national guidelines for the treatment of malaria.
Similarly efficient urban planning to control communicable diseases, making urban malaria control effective was suggested. Moreover co-ordination among Mother and child health related projects to control malaria and active support of UN agencies was underlined Likewise inclusion of public health in the curriculum of journalism, sensitisation of community and sustainable planning for the control of malaria was stressed.
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