Guwahati: A high-level ‘Indo-Bhutan Bilateral Meeting on Cross-Border Malaria Elimination’ was held on Wednesday in Guwahati to discuss a collaborative strategy for eliminating malaria.
The meeting prioritized malaria elimination in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) and the bordering districts of Bhutan.
The meeting united policymakers and health experts from India and Bhutan to foster stronger collaboration and implement a coordinated strategy against malaria, a significant public health concern in the shared border region.
The meeting was organized by the South-East Asia Regional Coordination Mechanism Forum.
The meeting aimed to address the recent upsurge of malaria cases in the India-Bhutan border region.
The participants reviewed the current cross-border malaria situation and discussed necessary actions to prevent future outbreaks and accelerate elimination efforts.
A key objective was to engage parliamentarians and secure their support in mobilizing community and domestic resources to ensure the long-term sustainability of malaria elimination within their respective constituencies.
Key strategies discussed at the meeting included enhanced surveillance through real-time data sharing and systematic population screening in border districts.
The measures also included proactive case detection, involving house-to-house malaria case searches in every village and community at 15-day intervals, was also highlighted.
Participants discussed implementing effective vector control measures, such as impregnated wall lining to reduce mosquito breeding.
Finally, ensuring seamless access to healthcare facilities across borders for timely diagnosis and treatment of malaria cases was recognized as crucial for eliminating malaria.
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Officials emphasized the importance of enhanced surveillance, community participation, and innovative vector control methods for successful malaria elimination.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Speaker of the Bhutan Parliament Dasho Sanjay Khandu, BTR Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pramod Boro, BTC Executive Member (EM) Ranjit Basumatary, Rajya Sabha MPs Rameswar Teli and Bhubaneswar Kalita and senior officials and health experts from both India and Bhutan.
