Data Viz
In five years to 2020, Odisha’s malaria burden reduced, with 90% fewer cases and 89% fewer deaths. The progress was primarily due to interventions such as spraying insecticide, distributing insecticidal nets and ensuring medicine availability. But cases rose in 2023. The state faces a critical shortage of insecticidal nets and primary health centres are facing medicine shortages. Experts are concerned that this is likely causing the latest increase in the state’s malaria cases. Further, there are discrepancies in reporting: The state’s malaria programme recorded nine deaths in 2020, but medical certification of cause of death data revealed 346 deaths that year. This was when only 16% of all deaths in the states were medically certified. As India aims to eliminate malaria by 2030, Jyoti Thakur reports from Malkangiri on what’s needed to stay on track.