KARACHI, Jan 24: The rollback malaria strategy recently launched in Sindh might prove effective in controlling the disease. Dr Qadir Baksh Qadwani, Director General Health Services Sindh, presiding over a seminar on Friday, appreciated the fact that the falciparum ratio had been brought down considerably in the recent years.

He expressed the hope that the Malaria Control Programme Sindh would achieve its targets by the year 2006, significantly reducing the incidence, morbidity and mortality due to the disease.

Dr Anwar Zeb of the Federal Malaria Control Programme said the federal government was developing operational and treatment guidelines for malaria.

He described the six aspects of the strategy recommended by WHO, which include strengthening the district health system, early detection and treatment of malaria patients, multiple preventive measures, operational research, developing partnerships and controlling epidemics.

He said 34 per cent of falciparum cases and 23 per cent of all malaria cases in the country were being reported from Sindh.

Dr Ghulam Nabi Kazi, WHO Operations Officer for Sindh, gave a presentation on the Early Warning System. He appreciated the efforts of the Malaria Control Program.

Dr Kazi stressed the need to impress upon people the change in strategy from spraying to early detection and treatment of cases. He also stressed the need to educate general practitioners on correct treatment guidelines for malaria.

Dr Qutubuddin Kakar, WHO Technical Officer for the Rollback Malaria, dwelt at length on various components of the Malaria Early Warning System, which can be useful in forecasting epidemics of malaria and taking appropriate measures before such a situation arises.

Earlier in his address, Director Malaria Control Programme, Soomar Sadruddin, said that till November 2002, 670,000 blood slides had been collected for examination. He said the falciparum ratio had been reduced from 57 per cent to 42 per cent in a couple of years and the annual parasitic index had come down from 1.6 per cent to 1.4 per cent.

Mr Sadruddin informed that geographical reconnaissance was also in progress for malaria Control purposes; 266 additional microscopists had been trained and selective spraying of insecticide had commenced in five districts on October 15 last year.

The seminar was attended by EDOs health, provincial coordinator HMIS, senior officers of the district health teams, entomologists, officers from the public health, engineering and others departments.

The participants carried out a group work on the early warning system. The participants will now train the relevant personnel in their respective districts in order to achieve the program objectives.—APP