India has made significant headway in reducing its malaria burden, with cases dwindling from 75 million annually in 1947 to just 2 million in 2023, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Malaria-related deaths have seen a staggering reduction, falling from 800,000 a year at the time of independence to merely 83 last year—a decrease of 99.99 per cent.
The Ministry, in a statement released on Wednesday, lauded the nation’s persistent efforts over 75 years to combat one of its most formidable public health challenges.
“This remarkable achievement underscores India’s determination to eliminate malaria and improve public health outcomes,” the statement emphasised.
India’s progress is also recognised globally, with the nation exiting the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) group, as highlighted in the WHO’s World Malaria Report 2024.
The Ministry has set a goal of achieving malaria-free status by 2030, supported by strategic advancements in public health interventions and disease management.
From 2015 to 2023, new malaria cases plummeted by 80 per cent, from over 1.16 million to 227,564. Furthermore, 122 districts reported no new malaria cases last year, marking a significant stride toward eradication.
States historically burdened by malaria, including Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Meghalaya, have moved to lower burden categories, while areas such as the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli now report fewer than one case per 1,000 residents annually.
Regions such as Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry have achieved Category 0 status, indicating zero indigenous cases, and have qualified for subnational malaria elimination verification.
The success is attributed to a multi-pronged strategy that includes enhanced surveillance, early detection mechanisms, timely interventions, and improved treatment protocols.
This robust approach has played a pivotal role in reducing the malaria burden nationwide.
Follow us
