QUETTA: Medical experts at an annual review meeting of malaria control programme said on Wednesday that malaria cases have declined 34 to 40 per cent in Balochsitan this year.

The meeting, held at the Institute of Public Health here to assess progress in malaria control and outline future strategies, was attended by representatives from CMU Islamabad, Indus Hospital, NRSP Nasirabad, BRSP, district health officers and monitoring officers.

Speaking on the occasion, experts said that over 1,800 public and private centres in 36 districts of Balochistan are offering free malaria diagnosis and treatment.

They said that from January to November 2024, over 1.58 million malaria tests were conducted across the province, identifying 345,785 confirmed cases. To strengthen malaria case management, 600 participants from 25 districts were trained in Rapid Diagnostic Testing and effective case handling.

Additionally, they said, 2.4m mosquito nets were distributed in 13 districts to curb malaria and other vector-borne diseases. The reported decrease in cases compared to the previous year underscores the success of improved preventive measures and coordinated strategies in controlling malaria in Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2024