Bastar: According to the reports, the security forces involved in an operation against hardcore naxalism in Bastar are battling with one of the worst malaria epidemics. The army personnel posted in FDLs in the Naxal-affected areas are vulnerable to the deadly disease, with instances reported in large numbers during the current monsoon period. This, coupled with other difficult circumstances in the region, has placed more pressure on the health overview and translated to high malaria incidence among the personnel.
At the same time, it is painful to note that this monsoon, malaria has claimed the lives of two soldiers only in this season alone. Among them, it has been alleged that most of the soldiers deployed in the Bastar region, particularly the Kanker and Narayanpur sub-divisions of Chhattisgarh, are worst affected. The fallen are a Bastar Fighter posted in Kanker and an STF man posted in Narayanpur. It is concerning that there is an increasing malaria incidence among security forces, a factor that clearly demonstrates the need to deal with this public health issue.
Measures for Naxal Frontline Soldiers
At the moment, seventeen of the STF personnel who are installed at a camp in Bastar are symptomatic of malaria and have been treated in the local government hospital. Due to this outbreak, the IG of Basar Sundarraj P., released some new directives, which increased the level of security among the fighters. Some of them are the provision of mosquito nets, insect repellent, and spraying of insecticides in the areas surrounding camps in order to discourage the breeding of mosquitoes.
However, all these efforts have not solved the problem, and the status remains critical. They are currently implementing measures that will reduce the effects of the outbreak, and this is illustrated through monitoring and prevention activities being conducted by the authorities. The incidence rate of dengue has come down this year, but malaria is still a major problem. Malaria expelled from soldiers shows the actual consequences regarding health hazards that a person could face under extreme and dangerous conditions.
The current outbreak brings into focus the medical requirements and risks that are endured by security forces posted in conflict zones, instead of which strategies need to be applied for the well-being of the security forces on duty.
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