A drive titled ‘Malaria Free’ Bastar began on Wednesday in all the seven districts of the division with health teams visiting houses, schools, ashram-hostel and para-military camps.

The one-month drive targets to reach out to 2.45 lakh houses covering 14 lakh people by testing malaria through blood samples. Those having malaria will be given medicines immediately and follow-up will be done. It is the first phase of three-phases to be conducted annually.

It will cover 26 blocks encompassing all blocks of Dantewada, Bijapur, Sukma and Narayanpur districts, Bastar district’s blocks of Bade Kilepal, Tokapal and Darba complete area, Lohandiguda, Nangur and Bastar blocks’ 10 sub-health centres and 14 sub health centres in Kondagaon district Makdi, Keshkal, Kondagaon and Farasgaon blocks.

The second phase will be held in monsoon months of May-June and third phase by the end of year in December-January. In Bastar, the 64 percent of malaria cases are reported from these 26 blocks.

The drive also targets and focuses to eliminate anemia, child mortality rate, maternal mortality rate and malnutrition. Around 1720 teams have been constituted and at each sub health centre, health worker, mitanin and anganbadi workers, four teams have been constituted.

Additional to blood sample, cleaning of breeding grounds, spraying of medicine and encouraging people to use mosquito net is included. The different departments mainly women and child development, school department, Public Health Engineering, Panchayat and Rural development, forest, tribal welfare and fisheries department ground staff are also coordinating in the effort.

It is one of the biggest screening drives launched while state level team is monitoring each district. Each house having identified with malaria patients will be marked for further follow up.