PESHAWAR, Feb 29: More people may contract malaria in the next few months because of the government's failure to start fumigation or set up diagnostic centres to provide treatment, an official said.

He said malaria claimed at least 2,000 lives in the NWFP. Malaria-infecting mosquitoes breeding season lasts between July and August and the government has taken no preparations in this regard.

"We are seeking proposals from EDOs (health) of all 24 districts. This process will finish by Feb 29, after which insecticide spray will be carried out in high-risk areas," said Dr Khalid Iqbal, provincial chief of the Roll-back Malaria.

He said that the government had allocated Rs7 million for purchase of drugs and insecticides. Another official said that 10 districts, including Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Karak, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Malakand, Swabi and Mardan had been declared high-risk areas on the basis of the annual parasite incidence report.

However, he said that the government has not yet devised a strategy to establish laboratories and specialized healthcare centres. He also complained that the four vehicles, provided to the districts of Dera Ismail Khan, Lakky Marwat, Malakand and Swabi by the National Malaria Control Programme to strengthen related activities in these areas, are being used by senior officials for other purposes.