Ranchi, July 1 (IANS) The Jharkhand government has issued a statewide alert after at least four malaria patients died in East Singhbhum district.

Taking the situation seriously, Additional Chief Secretary of the Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Department, Ajay Kumar Singh, on Wednesday directed all deputy commissioners to ensure immediate and comprehensive measures for malaria prevention and control.

According to the directive, districts reporting malaria cases have been asked to prepare and implement action plans on a war footing, strengthen surveillance, and fix accountability at every level.

Active field surveys will be conducted in areas reporting high incidences of fever through Multipurpose Health Workers (MPWs). Every suspected malaria case is to be tested immediately, and treatment must begin without delay if infection is confirmed.

The Health Department has also instructed authorities to ensure that critically ill patients are admitted to hospitals and provided with the necessary medical care. Proper treatment, monitoring, and follow-up of all malaria patients must be ensured. In addition, whenever a new malaria case is detected in any locality, a mandatory mass survey or fever survey will be conducted across the entire area.

Under the new measures, village-wise malaria data will be compiled, and health workers in highly affected villages will be equipped with Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits and essential medicines. Community Health Centres have been directed to maintain adequate stocks of testing materials and anti-malarial drugs. Authorities have also been asked to intensify insecticide spraying and larval control activities in affected regions.

The government has further ordered a large-scale public awareness campaign to encourage people to undergo timely testing and adopt preventive measures against mosquito-borne diseases.

To strengthen monitoring, the department has introduced a three-tier review mechanism. Under this system, weekly reviews will be conducted at the Community Health Centre level, fortnightly reviews by Civil Surgeons, and monthly district-level review meetings under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner.

Ajay Kumar Singh has directed all deputy commissioners to personally monitor malaria control programmes to ensure swift containment of the disease and prevent further loss of life.

–IANS

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