KARACHI: Number of malaria cases in Sindh is increasing in every division, particularly lower Sindh, forcing caretaker Chief Minister to direct officials concerned to prepare province-specific action plan to counter mosquito-borne illness.

Taking notice of rising malaria cases, caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Baqar directed Health Ministry and Local Government Department to control disease within one week and run campaign against malaria.

Official figures showed that 286,317 cases of high fever were reported at health facilities in province this month. Of them, 64,519 patients tested positive for malaria an increase of 31 percent as compared to last month, which saw 49,112 cases.

Most of these cases, according to official data are reported in Hyderabad division (31,891) followed by Mirpurkhas division (18,553), Larkana division (8,476), Sukkur division (2,595), Shaheed Benaziarabad (2,530) and Karachi division (474).

Most affected districts were Thatta (10,182) followed by Mirpurkhas (9,621), Umarkot (6,195), Hyderabad (6,531), Larkana (4,512), Dadu (3,188), Shikarpur (2,000) Jamshoro (2,242) Badin (4,399), Sujawal (2,681), Tando Allah Yar (1,202) and Tharparkar (2,737).

Official figures show that there has been gradual increase in malaria cases over months and province has reported 247,799 malaria cases from January till August.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 28 2023

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