ISLAMABAD, Sept 2: A framework for malaria early warning system (MEWS) has been designed to predict the outbreak of the deadly disease at an early possible stage.

This was stated by Federal Minister for Health Mohammad Nasir Khan while talking to a group of newsmen here on Tuesday.

He said the framework had been prepared by the Directorate of Malaria Control, Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).

He said the system was actually based on the collection and analysis of information about environmental factors and malaria disease at all levels.

The minister said the system was envisioned to promote public-private and inter-governmental collaboration. He said an amplified role had been suggested in the methodology of MEWS for the lady health workers working within the catchment areas of the health facilities concerned. He observed that their involvement in the activity would further enhance their efficiency and their role in disease surveillance.

He said the Directorate of Malaria Control and WHO joint team had selected the Rural Health Centre, Tarlai, Islamabad District, to test the methodology from September 2003 on experimental basis.

He was of the view that the involvement of lady health workers in this operation would help achieve the goal of National Roll Back Malaria initiative in the country.—PPI