National Malaria Control Program in Bangladesh: 2007-2010

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Malaria, a parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes, poses a significant public health challenge in Bangladesh.
• Following a ban on dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in 1985, malaria cases increased, leading to epidemics in the 1990s due to inadequate control programs and funding.
• The National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) in Bangladesh has received support from the Global Fund since 2006.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) in Bangladesh.
• To analyze changes in the burden of malaria, including incidence and mortality rates, from 2007 to 2010.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive retrospective study design was employed.
• Secondary malaria surveillance data, encompassing cases and deaths, were analyzed from 13 malaria-endemic districts, with a focus on five selected districts.
• Descriptive analysis was used to determine incidence and mortality rates.

Main Results:

• A total of 264,293 confirmed malaria cases were reported between 2007 and 2010.
• Individuals aged 15 years and above constituted over 50% of cases (55.7%), with males (53.5%) being more affected than females (46.5%).
• Plasmodium falciparum was the predominant species, causing 85.6% of infections. Rangamati district exhibited the highest incidence rate. Notably, malaria-related deaths declined significantly from 228 in 2007 to 37 in 2010.

Conclusions:

• The declining mortality rates indicate the NMCP is effective in managing malaria.
• Despite progress, malaria incidence remains high, necessitating the development of new strategies.
• Sustaining a high-quality surveillance and reporting system is crucial for achieving malaria elimination goals in Bangladesh.