Odisha to distribute medicated nets in malaria prone districts

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government will start distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) in three tribal dominated malaria prone districts on the occasion of the World Malaria Day tomorrow, official sources said here on Monday.

The districts where LLIN, also called medicated nets, would be distributed from April 25 are - Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur.

"The use of medicated nets will certainly help reducing rate of malaria cases in the state," an official said adding that 1.3 crore nets will be distributed under GFATM (Global Funds for Aids, TB and Malaria) programme.

The LLINs will also be distributed in 17 of the state's 30 district. The remaining 14 districts are - Rayagada, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bolangir, Nayagarh, Boudh, Angul, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur and Sundergarh. The nets to be distributed free of cost would be done in different phases.

Stating that earlier between 2009 and 2012, the Centre had supplied about 30 lakh LLINs which were distributed among the very high burden districts, the official said as many as two crore people would get benefit from the scheme.

The state had earlier in February this year had submitted its total requirement of LLINs to the Directorate of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).