Raipur, Jul 30 (PTI) More than 34.29 lakh persons were screened under the Chief Minister’s Swasth Bastar Campaign, Chhattisgarh health minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal said on Thursday.
The campaign, covering about 99 per cent of the target population in Bastar region, detected cases of malaria, tuberculosis, sickle cell disease, leprosy and oral cancer, while 60,000 patients with serious ailments were referred to higher medical institutions, he said at a press conference.
It also ensured special monitoring and treatment for 10,938 high-risk pregnant women, Jaiswal added.
“The health department has intensified surveillance following the recent detection of malaria cases, with health workers, ‘mitanins’ and ANMs conducting village-level screenings,
treatment, surveys and awareness drives. The government’s objective is to achieve zero malaria deaths through timely testing, treatment, monitoring and public awareness,” he said.
The malaria positivity rate in the Bastar division has declined from 4.60 per cent to 0.48 per cent, while the state’s Annual Parasite Index (API) has dropped from 5.21 to 0.90, reflecting sustained malaria control efforts, the minister informed.
Highlighting maternal and child healthcare, he said over 11.89 lakh institutional deliveries have been recorded in the state over the past two-and-a-half years.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, specialist check-ups, identification of high-risk pregnancies and necessary treatment are being provided to expectant mothers, Jaiswal said.
“The state has deployed 375 new ‘108 Sanjeevani Express’ ambulances, which provided emergency assistance to over 6.50 lakh people between January 2024 and June 2026. Modern pathology testing facilities are now available at 1,051 health institutions through a hub-and-spoke model supported by an IT-enabled reporting system and quality monitoring mechanism,” he said.
He also announced that paramedical courses will be introduced in all 10 government medical colleges to address the demand for trained healthcare personnel while creating employment-oriented educational opportunities for youth.
On food safety, the minister directed officials to strictly enforce the ban on the use and sale of ‘analogue paneer’ (synthetic non-dairy substitute made from vegetable oils etc), adding strict action would be taken against violations. PTI COR BNM
