Sipahijala District in Tripura is on track to become the state’s first malaria-free district. With zero local cases in the past year and aggressive control measures in place, the district sets a precedent for public health success ahead of the 2027 malaria elimination target.
Sipahijala District in Tripura is on the verge of a major public health milestone as it reports zero local malaria cases in the past year. This development puts the district on track to becoming the first in the state to achieve malaria-free status — significantly ahead of the 2027 target set by both the central and state governments.
The district’s success is attributed to an intensive, coordinated, and multi-pronged campaign led by local health authorities. According to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Debasish Das, “It has been our endeavor to eliminate malaria well before 2027. This momentum, if sustained, will make Sipahijala the first district within the state to be malaria-free.”
Though five malaria cases were recorded recently, all were imported cases involving individuals who had arrived from outside the district or even outside the state. Notably, there were no locally transmitted malaria cases reported within the district itself over the past year, underscoring the effectiveness of prevention and control measures being implemented on the ground.
One of the most critical components of the district’s strategy has been large-scale testing. In the last eight months alone, a remarkable 63,773 tests were conducted. This follows 135,658 tests in 2023 and an even higher 145,622 tests in 2024, showing the district’s commitment to consistent and widespread monitoring.
Ajit Sharma, District Consultant of the Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (VBDCP), outlined several key initiatives. One major effort involved active screening in 15 hostels where students return home periodically — a time identified as high-risk for malaria transmission. The district’s Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and other health workers have been particularly vigilant during these windows, conducting door-to-door screenings and promptly testing suspected cases.
Dr. Bithika Das, another senior medical officer involved in the programme, stressed the importance of not just preventing malaria but also preventing its re-establishment. “Our health workers and ASHAs are highly vigilant and regularly screening. The focus is on identifying even the mildest symptoms early, particularly among migrant and mobile populations,” she said.
Additionally, the rainy season — typically a high-risk period for malaria — saw the district organizing extensive health camps in various locations. In just the past eight months, 50,276 individuals were screened through door-to-door campaigns, and 93 health camps tested over 3,000 people. Encouragingly, not a single malaria-positive case was found through these efforts.
Vector control has been another major focus. Over the past two years, 42,843 houses were treated with indoor residual spray (IRS) — a proven technique to kill mosquitoes that transmit malaria. Furthermore, larvivorous fish (which feed on mosquito larvae) were introduced into water bodies across at least 30 locations in Bishalgarh Municipal area to naturally curb the mosquito population.
With only 16 malaria cases reported in early 2024 — all of which were travel-related — and none reported locally so far this year, the district’s achievements stand as a model for others in the region. This success story underscores how robust surveillance, proactive community involvement, and consistent health intervention can dramatically reduce, and eventually eliminate, a disease that once posed a serious threat to public health.
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If this trajectory continues, Sipahijala may soon become the first malaria-free district in Tripura, paving the way for similar victories across the state and contributing meaningfully to India’s goal of malaria elimination by 2027.
