National Project Implementation Plan - NVBDCP

year, covering all endemic districts, it provides information on trends in malaria
incidence and the geographic distribution of the disease in the country, but not
absolute size of the burden. Strengthening of the disease surveillance and
operational data management will take place as described below:
The introduction of RDTs and ACTs will by itself improve data quality by
attracting more patients to public services (and temporarily increasing the
recorded annual case-load). A protocol has been devised to dove-tail the
RDT data with microscopy at all levels. In the case of kala-azar similar
results are likely to accrue following the introduction of ‘rapid diagnostic
kits’ for diagnosis and new first line drugs are very effective and safe.
New streamlined formats, including computerized data management from
the block level and upwards have been prepared and will be piloted in three
districts (Sundergarh, Mayurbhanj( Orissa) and Kanker (Chhattisgarh) from
June to September 2008. These formats allow for example monitoring of
proportion of villages with a provider of RDTs and ACTs and the comparison
of operational data on coverage in populations at risk with data obtained
through surveys and LQAS. Similar activities will be undertaken in the kalaazar
elimination project to monitor the coverage and quality of case
management services.
A protocol under preparation by NVBDCP will be used by MTS/KTS to check
data completeness of both surveillance and operational data on a sample
basis at all levels in the district. During supportive supervision, kala-azar
treatment supervisor will validate the data of the general health workers.
Revamp of the web-based management information system, NAMIS
through World Bank funding, which was introduced a few years ago, but
has poor functionality due to poor connectivity in districts and lack of follow
up.
GIS is already being used in kala-azar elimination program and malaria high
burden districts on a limited scale and this would be further strengthened and
will be used for more effective planning of the spraying activities in the district.
GIS would be utilized to track the progress of elimination of kala-azar.
(b) Sentinel surveillance
The weaknesses of the existing malaria surveillance are the lack of articulation
with hospitals, which means that severe malaria cases are not reported
separately (if at all) and that only a small fraction of malaria deaths is
recorded. 9 Therefore, sentinel surveillance will be established, by selecting, in
each district, 2-3 hospitals/health centres with high malaria case-loads (these
can be private or mission hospitals) for recording of all in-patients with malaria
and malaria-related deaths introducing classification according to defined
criteria.
9 Kumar A, et al. Burden of malaria in India: retrospective and prospective view. Am J Trop Med
Hyg. 2007 Dec;77(6 Suppl):69-78
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