Thirteen out of 64 districts have been affected by malaria. Of them, Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari are worst affected where 91 percent cases are detected as those are surrounded by hills and forests, they said while addressing a Media Orientation at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in the city.
The programme was held ahead of the World Malaria Day 2019, which will be held on April 25.
National Malaria Elimination and Aedes Transmitted Disease Control Programme, Disease Control Division, DGHS, WHO and BRAC jointly organised the programme, said a press release.
The programme was told that a total of 10,523 malaria patients were identified in the country last year. Seven of them later died. Now, the number of affected people has been reduced by 88 percent and the mortality rate also decreased by about 95 percent compared to 2008.
The experts cited a number of challenges in tackling the disease. These are: failure of quick diagnosis and giving treatment in remote areas, trend of spreading malaria through cross-border movement, and brining all risky people under malaria treatment.
They suggested taking measures such as using long-lasting insecticide net, keeping courtyards and nearby areas clean and filling up unnecessary water bodies (where mosquitoes lay eggs) for prevention.
The experts also called for taking treatment immediately if any symptom of malaria is found.
If malaria is not eliminated from the country by 2030, achieving Sustainable Development Goal (3.3) would be very difficult as the SDG stressed on elimination of malaria by the time, they said.
Chaired by Prof Dr Sanya Tahmina, director of Disease Control and Line Director, CDC, the programme was addressed by Prof Dr Nasima Sultana, additional director general (admin) of DGHS, Prof MA Faiz, Ex-DG of DGHS, Dr Mohammad Akramul Islam, director of communicable disease and WASH of BRAC, Dr AM Bangali, ex-NPO, WHO Bangladesh, Prof. Be-Nazir Ahmed, national consultant of DGHS.
Dr MM Akhtaruzzaman, DPM, NME and ATDCP, presented the keynote paper at the event.