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Time of India
10-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Goa in malaria elimination phase: Health Minister Rane
Panaji: Goa has entered malaria elimination phase of malaria, with the state targeting complete eradication of the disease by 2025-26, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said. To eliminate vector-borne diseases (VBD), the Directorate of Health Services has issued an advisory to various departments to focus on the sanitation practices across various geographic areas, Rane said in a post on X on Monday. In addition, mandatory malaria screening and issuance of health cards for all labourers at construction sites is being implemented under the Goa Public Health Act, he said. "Goa is in the Elimination Phase of Malaria, with a goal to achieve complete elimination by 2025-26," the minister said. The minister urged people to help eliminate mosquito breeding grounds by maintaining clean surroundings. "Let us work together to ensure a VBD-free Goa . Public participation and inter-departmental coordination is the key," Rane added. Highlighting recent milestones, Rane said a proposal has been submitted for the Sub-National Malaria Elimination Award for South Goa for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. This is a "significant achievement in the state's ongoing public health efforts," he said.
India.com
09-07-2025
- Health
- India.com
Goa Health Minister makes big statement, plans to make state free from THIS disease by 2025-2026
New Delhi: Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has said that the state has entered malaria elimination phase of malaria, with the state targeting complete eradication of the disease by 2025-26. To eliminate vector-borne diseases (VBD), the Directorate of Health Services has issued an advisory to various departments to focus on the sanitation practices across various geographic areas, Rane said in a post on X on Monday. In addition, mandatory malaria screening and issuance of health cards for all labourers at construction sites is being implemented under the Goa Public Health Act, he said. 'Goa is in the Elimination Phase of Malaria, with a goal to achieve complete elimination by 2025–26,' the minister said. The minister urged people to help eliminate mosquito breeding grounds by maintaining clean surroundings. 'Let us work together to ensure a VBD-free Goa. Public participation and inter-departmental coordination is the key,' Rane added. Highlighting recent milestones, Rane said a proposal has been submitted for the Sub-National Malaria Elimination Award for South Goa for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. This is a 'significant achievement in the state's ongoing public health efforts,' he said. Steps Taken By Goa Government: Key measures include mandatory screening of all labourers at construction sites and the issuance of health cards under the Goa Public Health Act—an area often identified as a high-risk zone for mosquito breeding. The Directorate of Health Services (DHS) has also issued advisories to departments across the board to strengthen sanitation practices in both urban and rural pockets. 'Goa is in the elimination phase of malaria, with a goal to achieve complete eradication by 2025–26,' Rane said. 'This is not just a departmental effort—it requires coordination between government bodies and active involvement from the public.' With PTI Inputs
India.com
09-07-2025
- Health
- India.com
Goa Targets Malaria-Free Status by 2025–26: Health Minister Rane Outlines Roadmap
Goa has embarked on an ambitious mission to eradicate malaria by 2025–26, marking a significant shift in the state's public health strategy. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane announced that the state has officially entered the elimination phase of malaria, with coordinated efforts now underway to completely eliminate the disease over the next year. Key measures include mandatory screening of all labourers at construction sites and the issuance of health cards under the Goa Public Health Act—an area often identified as a high-risk zone for mosquito breeding. The Directorate of Health Services (DHS) has also issued advisories to departments across the board to strengthen sanitation practices in both urban and rural pockets. 'Goa is in the elimination phase of malaria, with a goal to achieve complete eradication by 2025–26,' Rane said. 'This is not just a departmental effort—it requires coordination between government bodies and active involvement from the public.' To ensure the momentum continues, the state has submitted a proposal for the Sub-National Malaria Elimination Award for South Goa district, covering performance across 2022, 2023, and 2024. The award recognizes regions demonstrating measurable progress in malaria control and elimination. Public awareness is also a central component of the strategy. The health department is urging citizens to help eliminate mosquito breeding sites by maintaining clean surroundings. 'Public participation is key. Let us work together to make Goa free of vector-borne diseases,' Rane added. Officials say the move reflects the state's larger health vision, with an emphasis on early detection, prevention, and sustained surveillance. If successful, Goa would become one of the first Indian states to achieve malaria eradication under the national framework. With a clear timeline and multi-stakeholder approach, Goa's fight against malaria is being closely watched by public health experts and other states working toward similar goals.
India Today
03-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
Why it's drone war against dengue, malaria in Goa
The Goa government, in a new strategy against vector-borne diseases dengue and malaria, is planning to use drones to identify mosquito-breeding sites and take measures to control them. Two high-risk sites—one urban and one rural—will be identified in North Goa and South Goa for the research study, which is planned to be scaled up to cover the state, depending on the outcomes.'This will help us reach overhead tanks of buildings and roof gutters where there is water leakage and stagnation (leading to breeding of mosquitoes). There have been instances where we have reported cases but breeding sites have not been observed as we have been unable to reach them,' said Dr Kalpana Mahatme, state programme officer and deputy director of the National Vector Borne Diseases Control project is being undertaken with the National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), Goa branch, and will cover two urban pockets and two primary health centres (PHCs) in rural areas, which are high-risk places due to incidences of will be used to identify breeding sites and spray insecticide. The procurement of four drones is in process. 'Once we get good results, we will scale it up all over Goa,' explained Mahatme. Goa is witnessing rapid urbanisation with a spurt in the development of highrises and residential complexes. It may be difficult to access some parts of these buildings where mosquitoes may breed. People also travel from remote areas to cities for work, and may end up being carriers of dengue and 2022, Goa reported 443 cases of dengue and one fatality. This rose to 512 cases and three deaths in 2023, and 567 cases and three deaths in said they were also planning an app-based research study with the NIMR for tracking the movement of migrant labour to prevent malaria. Under this, the contractors will have to install an app on the phones of labourers to help the department track their movements and enable the local PHC staff and those from the NIMR to conduct rapid tests and blood case of positive cases, it will help track the movements of these workers. According to the Goa Public Health Act, 1985, it is mandatory for all construction workers, especially migrant workers, to be screened for malaria and other diseases. They must also be given a health card issued by the public health department. Any violation by the contractors entails a fine of Rs 10, indigenous cases of malaria (those among the local population) have been nil for the past two years. Goa, however, has imported cases from other states due to the migrant population that flocks to the coastal state from Karnataka, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and 2022, Goa had two cases of malaria and no deaths. In 2023 and 2024, there were no positive cases and no fatalities. The state has not reported any malaria deaths since 2018. Goa is targeting the elimination of malaria by to India Today Magazine
