No home care allowed for kids with malaria in G’chiroli villages

Nagpur: Rattled by the sudden death of six children due to malaria infection in July this year in Gadchiroli villages, the health department in the next two months didn’t take any chance with children having fever. Though the number of infections has remained highest in Nagpur division — accounting for 94% — no death was reported after July.
Assistant director of health services (Nagpur circle) Dr Shyam Nimgade said that the focus on kids increased as part of surveillance since July. “Any kid found positive for malaria in our surveys was not allowed to be treated at home. Kids with history of convulsions were strictly shifted to either rural, sub-district or district hospitals,” he said.
The data for September-end is yet to be confirmed. Dr Nimgade confirmed that no death has taken place in Gadchiroli since July.
Following the six deaths mainly in Dhanora, Etapalli, Bhamragad and Khurkheda, health workers found that villagers were seeking traditional healers to treat sick children. The kids had succumbed within a day or two after being admitted to hospital in a serious condition. Death of the six kids, all below 11 years, left the health officials and local administration in a tight spot.
“Traditional healers would keep sick persons at their place only, which was a big hurdle in early treatment. Hence, we increased supervision in the field. No clinical condition is being missed now. All homes and ashram schools are under constant watch for kids of all age groups,” he said.
The health department would also intensify mass surveys at around 14 primary health centres (PHCs) with high endemicity to the disease.
Dr Nimgade said his team is planning a new strategy to find out why over the years there is high prevelance of malaria in Gadchiroli and what needs to be done. “The mortality is quite low. Treatment is easily available to all,” said the official.
This year so far, Nagpur division comprising Nagpur, Wardha, Gondia, Bhandara, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts has recorded 7,333 malaria cases and 16 deaths. Of these, 6,899 cases and 11 deaths have been reported from Gadchiroli alone. Three deaths took place in Gondia and two in Chandrapur.
Nagpur district has seen 11 cases and no deaths. Wardha is yet to register a malaria case this year.
The division had reported 7,051 malaria cases and 13 deaths in 2020, followed by 12,999 cases and 14 deaths in 2021. Bulk of the cases were from Gadchiroli and Gondia.
INFOBOX
Nagpur division data
# 2022 till Aug
Cases | 7,333
Deaths | 16
# 2021
Cases | 12,999
Deaths 14
2020
Cases | 7,051
Deaths | 13