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| Malaria Testing by ASHA Workers, Tripura |
Agartala: A worrying resurgence of malaria is sweeping through the hill tribal regions under the Teliamura subdivision of Tripura, with the Mungiakami block in Khowai district emerging as a hotspot. Villages such as Bilaiham Reang Para, Baramura Hill, Tirthamuni Reang Para, Bahadur Sardar Para, Dattamalsum Para, Kalibasti, Nonacherra, Kakracherra, and Tripurabasti have been flagged as malaria-prone zones by local health authorities.
Tragedy struck the region on Sunday when a 7-year-old child from Bilaiham Reang Para reportedly succumbed to a six-day fever that went untreated. Community sources confirmed the child had contracted malaria but failed to receive timely medical care, raising alarm over the healthcare response in remote tribal areas.
In another grim development, 8-month-old Surajit Jamatia and a woman named Kabita Rupini from Narayanbasti, Baramura Hill were diagnosed with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria and are currently undergoing treatment at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Teaching Hospital and Tripura Medical College in Hapania, Agartala. The infant remains in critical condition in the ICU. Both families have accused ASHA workers of negligence, claiming that multiple calls for help went unanswered.
Public outrage is growing over the perceived failure of local health workers to respond effectively to the crisis. Villagers allege that despite visible signs of a spreading outbreak, ground-level medical support remains missing or insufficient.
The situation prompted an emergency response from health authorities. On Tuesday, a 15-year-old girl named Baisarung Reang was admitted to Teliamura Sub-Divisional Hospital with confirmed malaria. In response, Sub-Divisional Medical Officer (SDMO) Dr. Raja Jamatia convened an urgent meeting with Multi-Purpose Workers (MPWs), Malaria Prevention Staff (MPSs), and Community Health Officers (CHOs) to discuss immediate containment strategies.
Of significant concern is the reported discontinuation of DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) spraying in hill regions for the past four years. Despite 85 DDT workers still officially assigned across Teliamura, Mungiakami, and Kalyanpur blocks, most have remained inactive due to a halt in operations. This lack of vector control measures is now being cited as a key contributor to the outbreak.
With nearly every household reportedly battling fever and suspected malaria cases, local residents are demanding urgent government intervention. Community leaders are calling for immediate deployment of health camps, robust malaria testing facilities, and the resumption of mosquito control efforts to contain the crisis before it worsens further.
Health department officials are yet to release a formal statement on the broader plan of action.
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