A new software for the detection, control and treatment of malaria will be launched in the city in August. The first stage of its trial run on tablet computers is over and the second phase is now on.
“We will incorporate changes in the software in the second phase,” Naren Koduvattat, managing director of I Point, which is developing the software for the Mangalore Medical Relief Society that was entrusted with the task by the Mangalore City Corporation.
The need for a software arose as there is no system to monitor the treatment of persons diagnosed with malaria and the work to detect and destroy the source of breeding of mosquitoes that transmit the malaria parasite. The software will be used in the tablets given to the 50-odd multi-purpose workers of the corporation involved in source identification and destruction of the parasite. These workers will move with the tablets. Apart from spotting sites of mosquito breeding, it will help monitor follow-up action too. Mr. Kodvattat said features of the software were presented before officials from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme at a recent meeting in Bengaluru. “They want us to have features that will help the study of the data. For that this system will have to be used extensively,” Mr. Kodvattat said.
He said each of the 80-odd laboratories in the city would report cases of malaria that would reflect on a website being created for the purpose. Soon after it is reported, messages would be transferred to the workers, who will have to report the source of malaria and the action taken to destroy it. A set of officials will monitor the whole process on a daily basis. The software also permits citizens to report cases of malaria.
Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim asked corporation Deputy Commissioner (administration) Gokuldas Nayak to designate seven health inspectors in-charge of monitoring malaria control in each of the seven wards.