ITANAGAR Apr 25: In a major public health achievement, Arunachal Pradesh has declared 19 of its 27 districts malaria-free, marking significant progress towards the State’s goal of eliminating malaria by 2027.
The milestone was announced during the observance of World Malaria Day 2026 by the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) under the Department of Health Services, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, at the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) Conference Hall here on Saturday. The programme was organized in alignment with the national theme, “Driven to End Malaria: Now we can. Now we must.”
Delivering the welcome address, Dr K T Mulung, Deputy Director of Health Services-cum-State Programme Officer (NCVBDC), described the development as a “significant milestone” in the State’s malaria elimination journey. He attributed the achievement to sustained awareness campaigns, effective surveillance, timely diagnosis and treatment, and strong inter-sectoral coordination.
Highlighting the steady decline in malaria cases, Dr Mulung informed that the State reported only 32 cases in 2025, placing Arunachal Pradesh in the low malaria burden category. He noted that this reflects the effectiveness of ongoing public health interventions and the commitment of the Health Department.
The districts declared malaria-free include Anjaw, Dibang Valley, East Kameng, East Siang, Kamle, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Leparada, Longding, Lower Dibang Valley, Lower Siang, Lower Subansiri, Namsai, Pakke Kessang, Siang, Tawang, Upper Subansiri, West Kameng and West Siang.
Dr Mulung commended the relentless efforts of healthcare workers, field staff, surveillance teams and community volunteers, whose dedication has been instrumental in achieving this feat. He emphasized that continued vigilance, community participation and sustained intervention are crucial to maintaining the malaria-free status and extending it to the remaining districts.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, he stated that Arunachal Pradesh is on track to achieve complete malaria elimination by 2027, in line with national targets.
As part of the observance, a malaria pledge and slogan session was conducted, with participants reaffirming their commitment to prevention, early diagnosis and prompt treatment. A short awareness film highlighting field experiences, best practices and timely intervention strategies was also screened on the occasion.
The programme saw participation from senior health officials, programme officers, consultants, field staff and other stakeholders, reflecting a strong collaborative approach towards malaria elimination in the State.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr P J Sharma, Consultant (Monitoring & Evaluation), NCVBDC, who expressed gratitude to all participants for their continued support in strengthening malaria control initiatives.