Malaria control activities have always been a priority in Pakistan. Development of irrigation networks, coupled with unprecedented population growth and haphazard urbanisation, together with with the existing socio-economic and environmental conditions has increased the malariogenic potential of the country. The country has been actively engaged in Malaria control activities since 1950. A nation wide Malaria eradication campaign was launched in 1961 under the auspices of W.H.O, and with the support from UNICEF and USAID. As a result of this campaign Malaria was nearly eradicated from the country, bringing reduction from 15% to less than 0.01% in the positivity rates of slides collected in surveillance operations.
The relief however, proved to be to be temporary and Malaria began increasing in 1969 due to variety of factors including an increase of Malaria in urban setting, onset o Orgganochlorines (DDT and Dieldrin / BHC) resistance in Anopheles and parasite resistance to the magic drug "Chloroquine". This together with pre-mature with drawl of donor support lead to major financial and administrative constraints. This resulted in the program collapse subsequently followed by explosive resurgence of Malaria in 1970's reaching epidemic proportion in 1972-73.
The failure of eradication program promoted the initiation of a five-year National Malaria Control Program (MCP) in 1975, again using vector control as the main intervention strategy. At this stage the implementation was handed over to the provincial governments and Malaria Control Program was integrated with the general health services.
The relief however, proved to be to be temporary and Malaria began increasing in 1969 due to variety of factors including an increase of Malaria in urban setting, onset o Orgganochlorines (DDT and Dieldrin / BHC) resistance in Anopheles and parasite resistance to the magic drug "Chloroquine". This together with pre-mature with drawl of donor support lead to major financial and administrative constraints. This resulted in the program collapse subsequently followed by explosive resurgence of Malaria in 1970's reaching epidemic proportion in 1972-73.
The failure of eradication program promoted the initiation of a five-year National Malaria Control Program (MCP) in 1975, again using vector control as the main intervention strategy. At this stage the implementation was handed over to the provincial governments and Malaria Control Program was integrated with the general health services.
Author: Ikram Ullah
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