FE Report
More than 3.4 million people in four districts are still at high risk of malaria although Bangladesh has significantly brought down the number of patients and people facing risk.
The number of malaria patients has reduced by 2,627 and people at risk 2.3 million over the last one year. According to a recent data, at present the number of people at risk of malaria has come down to 13.2 million from 15.6 million in 2012.
These were revealed Thursday at a roundtable discussion on 'National Malaria Control Programme: Future Plan For Malaria-Free Bangladesh' at Brac Centre Inn in the city. The event was organised by Directorate General of Health Services, Daily Jugantar and BRAC.
Experts observed that coordination in bordering areas of Bangladesh, India and Myanmar is essential to maintain the success Bangladesh has achieved in controlling and treating malaria. Intruders from Myanmar and India affected with malaria enter Bangladesh which has made the target of making Malaria Free Bangladesh by 2020 a challenging one.
Bangladesh under its MDG goal targeted to reduce the number of malaria-affected patients to 310 per hundred thousand by 2015 but succeeded to reduce the number to 202 by 2013.
Highly endemic 13 districts--Kurigram, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Rangamati and Khagrachhari, have border with India and two districts, Cox's Bazar and Bandarban, have border with Myanmar. The bordering areas in these districts have forests and hills that act as breeding ground for mosquito carrying malaria germ.
Speakers noted the number of people at risk of malaria has reduced significantly because of the government and 21 non-government organisation's (NGO), cooperation.
Health and Family Welfare Secretary MM Neazuddin was present on the occasion as the chief guest while Jugantar deputy editor Rafiqul Islam Ratan moderated the discussion.
Line director of National Malaria Control Programme Professor Be-Nazir Ahmed chaired the event and presented the keynote paper.
