KARACHI: The Sindh Malaria Control Programme has been facing a financial crisis for one year, compelling the programme management to suspend malaria control activities throughout the province.
Sources at the Sindh Malaria Control Programme told PPI that the federal government had stopped funding of vertical programmes from June 2017 after the end of PC-I and had directed all provincial governments to approach the Council of Common Interests (CCI) for further extension.
However, Sindh health department authorities have shown a lack of interest and delayed approaching the CCI for further extension.
On the other hand, the Sindh health department has also not released Rs400 million to Sindh Malaria Control Programme from January 2018 to December 2018.
Currently, there are 1,700 employees working across the province under the programme and the Sindh government is giving salaries to them on a regular basis.
However, malaria control activities, procurements of medicines, fumigation, awareness programmes and other activities have been suspended due to a shortage of funds.
It was feared that Sindh might face an outbreak of malaria in the coming months if the funds were not released.
In 2018, the Programme had recorded 109,000 malaria positive cases across the province. However, no deaths were reported due to the disease.
Sindh Malaria Control Programme Manager Mohammad Abbas Gopang was not available for comments.
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