Akangjungla
Attaining equitable access to healthcare has been one of the common desires of the general people in the state of Nagaland. Public healthcare system was in chaos and mayhem during the outbreak of the Coronavirus, which the World Health Organisation declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30, 2020. Among other life-threatening diseases, malaria remains a significant health concern all over the world. Every year, April 25 brings the global attention to malaria, an ‘infection caused by a parasite and does not spread from person to person.’
The observance of World Malaria Day 2024 was held with the theme ‘Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world.’ The occasion served as an opportunity for the health sector to strengthen their commitment to eradicate malaria completely while also acknowledging the gap in the global malaria eradication/elimination programmes. The Regional Director, World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region, in her message on the occasion of World Malaria Day 2024, divulges that in recent years, global efforts to reduce malaria have stagnated, posing a significant threat to public health and exacerbating inequalities within communities. The Regional Director also notes that ‘malaria remains a significant public health challenge in our Region, affecting nine out of eleven countries and accounting for a third of the global burden outside Africa.’ It supplements the fact provided by the WHO that since 2007, its annual World malaria report on ‘a stalling of progress towards critical targets of the global malaria strategy, particularly in countries that carry a high burden of disease.’ And therefore, this year the theme, ‘Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world’ heightens the need ‘for renewed attention to the barriers to health equity, gender equality, and human rights in malaria responses.’
Back here in Nagaland, according to data from the National Center for Vector Borne Disease Control (NCVBDC), Directorate of Health & Family Welfare (DoHFW) the districts of Dimapur, Phek, Longleng, Mokokchung, Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire and Zunheboto have reported zero case in 2023. ‘The trend data shows a steady reduction in malaria cases over the past six years from 20 cases in 2019 to zero case in 2024. There were 12 positive cases reported in 2020, eight in 2021, five in 2022 and four in 2023’ reports, the journalist from this newspaper covering the observation of the World Malaria Day in Kohima. With is achievement, Nagaland is reportedly one of the best performing states in the Northeast region towards elimination of malaria. It is encouraging and important to note the observation made that Nagaland has made significant achievement towards the elimination of malaria by 2030. And the accomplishment made has been attributed to the diligent health workers and community volunteers, particularly Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA). This is another positive example of community engagement for attaining a targeted goal. Nagaland is home to indigenous people and very much a community-based society, and this unquestionably would aid in facilitating diseases elimination efforts. Implementing effective community engagement could perhaps make it easier to commit to accelerating the fight against malaria.
Comments can be sent to akangjungla@gmail.com
