A tri-party agreement has been signed between Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Govt of Madhya Pradesh and Foundation for Disease Elimination and Control of India (FDEC-India) to launch the Malaria Free India demonstration project in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh.  FDEC-India has been established by Sun Pharma for disease elimination and control initiatives as part of its CSR programme.

The Malaria Free India initiative was announced in April 2016 as part of the broader MoU signed between ICMR and Sun Pharma for development of translational health sciences and disease control & elimination. ICMR’s National Institute for Research in Tribal Health  (NIRTH) is one of it’s permanent national institute situated in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh with the mandate to plan, conduct and coordinate research on specific health problems and health needs of the tribals. The Institute is also WHO Collaborative Centre for the Health of the Indigenous populations.

According to the Agreement signed, NIRTH, Govt of MP and FDEC-India will jointly accomplish the goals of malaria elimination from Mandla district and prevent re-introduction by use of vector control (Indoor residual spray and/or use of insecticide treated long-lasting bednets (LLINs) and case management (rapid on-the-spot diagnosis and prompt treatment) as per national and/or WHO norms of malaria elimination efforts. FDEC-India will be responsible for implementation of the Project in an independent manner in collaboration with NIRTH/ICMR, Govt of MP and all appropriate stakeholders. It will execute the malaria elimination project over a span of 3 to 5 years covering 1,233 villages in Mandla district. The Malaria Free India demonstration project in Mandla is expected to be launched by January 2017.

Commenting on the agreement signed, Dilip Shanghvi, managing director, Sun Pharma, said, “Sun Pharma has established FDEC-India with a goal to work on health initiatives relevant to national health programme in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders with a view to eliminate and control diseases. The Public-Private-Partnership agreement signed today is an important step towards elimination of Malaria from India by 2030.  Sun Pharma is excited to be part of this significant public health initiative, which will save lives, prevent illness and improve economic conditions of communities that are impacted by malaria.”

According to Dr S Y Quraishi, chairman of the Foundation for Disease Elimination and Control of India (FDEC-India), “I am pleased that FDEC-India is taking the first step for eliminating malaria in India.  Sun Pharma, which has established FDEC-India, deserves to be congratulated.  Malaria elimination has been recognized as a global priority and a target of 2030 has been established for elimination.  With the signing of the agreement with Govt. of MP and ICMR, we are starting malaria elimination project.  The Public-Private-Partnership between FDEC-India, ICMR and Govt. of MP is an important strategy to meet health challenges and I hope other organizations will join FDEC-India in this and future health initiatives”

According to Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Secretary Department of Health Research, Director General Indian Council of Medical Research Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, “I congratulate National Institute for Research in Tribal Health, Sun Pharma’s Foundation for Disease Elimination and Control of India and Government of Madhya Pradesh for starting malaria elimination project in Mandla. Using field tested and proven tools of vector control, case management by rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment this program aims to able to eliminate malaria from Mandla district. Intensive community engagement through community meetings, local markets, school children, women etc will be an important component of this Programme. ICMR will actively participate and extend full logistic and technical support.  The lessons learned from this demonstration project will be useful for scaling up malaria elimination program in the rest of the state and the country.”