Chhattisgarh health officials intensify malaria surveillance in forest districts

The Chhattisgarh health department has made malaria and other vector‑borne disease prevention a top priority during the monsoon season. State officials carried out field inspections in remote forest areas of Bilaspur district’s Kota block and Mungeli district’s Lormi block, assessing the on‑ground status of malaria control activities. They directed that every vulnerable settlement maintain active malaria surveillance, compile household line‑lists, and have sufficient rapid diagnostic test kits and antimalarial medicines. A rapid response team was placed on 24 × 7 alert, with orders to reach any reported cluster within 24 hours for immediate containment. Senior officials, including Dr Gayatri Bandhi, Dr Sheela Shah and Dr V.R. Bhagat, oversaw the review and emphasized continuous monitoring to ensure that families living in forest areas receive timely testing and treatment.