By IANS,
New Delhi : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) Thursday approved an intensified malaria control project at an estimated cost of Rs.417.22 crore ($87.88 million) for seven northeast states in the country.
The CCEA cleared the health ministry proposal for Intensified Malaria Control Project-II (IMCP-II) for seven northeast states (except Sikkim) under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) with support from Global Fund for AIDS, TB and malaria.
The aim of the project is to reduce malaria-related mortality and morbidity in project states by at least 30 percent by 2015 as compared to 2008-levels, said an official statement.
“The approval envisages continuance of erstwhile Global Fund Supported Intensified Malaria Control Project (IMCP-I) for the year 2005-10 with revised geographical focus in high endemic seven northeast states for accelerated control of malaria,” it said.
The main components of the proposal are human resource development, procurement and distribution of commodities and drugs, Information, Education and Communication (IEC)/ Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) activities and planning, monitoring and evaluation.
It also includes measures for improving behaviour change communication, vector and parasite surveillance, partnership development and capacity building. The project covers the period from Oct 1, 2010 to Sep 30, 2015.