Malaria Outbreak Hits Anti-Naxal Operations in Central India

At least one policeman has died and over 400 have fallen ill due to the outbreak of malaria in Bastar. The situation is compounded by the lack of medicare in Bastar as the region has only one major hospital in Jagdalpur.

The hospital lacks capacity to treat the influx of patients, and the male ward of the hospital is brimming over and over 50 personnel of the state police and the CRPF have to lie on the floor.

The outbreak of malaria in the district has severely impacted the security forces on the Naxal front.

The Bastar Inspector General (IG) has asked the government to provide immediate help.

“Our operations have been affected. We have asked the state government to immediately take note of the situation and ensure medicare for policemen,” said IG S R P Kalluri.

“We have given special instructions to our forces posted in sensitive areas,” he said.

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At least two anti-Naxal operations in the region were to be curtailed last week as the personnel were hit by the disease in forests, forcing the top officers to order an immediate retreat.

Sanjay Basak, Bastar’s malaria officer said that, "The sudden outbreak of malaria is a serious issue."

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“So far we have provided them chloroquine and primaquine for malaria, but these have proved ineffective. We have taken advice from the WHO’s officers about other medicines,” he said.

Source-Medindia