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Field Station- Guwahati (Assam) |
Assam is a land of hills and valleys located between 240 to 280N 900 to 960 E.
It is bounded by its sister states and has an international border with Bhutan
to the North and Bangladesh to the South. The valleys are marked by major river
systems and are flood prone during the monsoon season. Precipitation is general
2 or above 2 meters. Much of it occurs during monsoon season (July to September)
with pre-monsoon showers beginning March/ April. The relative humidity varies
between 60% to 80% and most part of the year is hot and humid (220 to 330 C)
except November to February (minimum temperature 90 C), which marked the winter
season. The environment is conductive for both mosquito proliferation and active
malaria transmission. Mosquito fauna is rich and transmission is perennial and
persistent in many pockets of the State under the influence of An. minimus
(the
perennial species), An. dirus ( the monsoon species), and An. fluviatilis (the
winter species), the latter acts as a relay transmitter in foothill areas. All
three species are efficient vectors of malaria owing to their high anthropophilic index. Malaria accounts for bulk of disease burden in the State
and is responsible for high morbidity and mortality. Nearly 30 to 40 percent of
outdoor cases are due to malaria during the peak transmission period (May to
September) corresponding to rainy months. Most districts of the State are
malaria endemic and many pockets are vulnerable to focal outbreaks. These very
areas are forest/ fringe / foothill villages located along inter-country/
inter-State border.
With this background, filed station was established in Sonapur, PHC (Kamrup
District of Assam) in May 1986 as Science & Technology Project on “Integrated
Disease Vector Control of Malaria”) in mission board under assistance from
Ministry of Science & Technology (Govt. of India) and Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR). The sole objective of this field unit was to field evaluated
the alternate technologist for Malaria/ Vector control with special focus on
“Insecticide Treated Nets”. Sonapur PHC is typical malaria endemic area located
on the South Bank of the Brahmaputra River bordering Meghalaya. It contributes
more than 50% of the malaria cases of the Kamrup District and is known for
persistent transmission of the disease associated with enhanced morbidity and
mortality. Since its inspection, numbers of research projects have been
completed with primary focus on “Insecticide Treated Nets”, technology transfer
on the subject and allied investigation on the disease epidemiology.
MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS:
1. Successful field demonstration of “Insecticide Treated Nets” for malaria
control in Assam coupled with its implementation in Northeastern States through
Primary Health Care System of Govt. of India.
2. Development and circulation of population health education materials, viz.,
Video casettes (2), booklets (1), folders (4) wall posters (1), and exhibition
(1) on malaria and its control.
3. In understanding vector bionomics and malaria transmission dynamics in Assam
(N.E. region).
4. Filed evaluation of alternate drugs for treatment of Pf drug resistant
malaria, e.g., Alpha-Beta Arteether (E-mal) & (Azithromycin + chloroquine)
combination therapy.
5. Filed evaluation of rapid test kits for diagnosis of malaria parasite species
(DiaMed Optimal, ICT).
6. Monitoring of therapeutic efficacy of Anti –Malarials and development of drug
policy.
7. Creation of skilled manpower for training cum demonstration on malaria for
students, young doctors and paramedical staffs.
List of ongoing Research Projects:
1. Assessment of therapeutic efficacy of Anti-malarials for treatment of P.
falciparum malaria. WHO (SEARO)
2. Genetic diversity of P. falciparum and P. vivax in India; Development of micro-satellite markers. ` ICMR Grant-in-Aid
3. Malaria epidemics, detection & control in Assam. ICMR (Extra mural/ IDVC)
4. Mapping of malaria vectors in Assam, a GIS based approach. ICMR Task Force Project.
5. Sibling species composition of malaria vectors of Northeast. ICMR (Extra
mural./IDVC).
For further information please contact:
Dr Vas Dev
Scientist Er
National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR) Field Unit
Chachal, VIP Road,
Guwahati – 781 022 (Assam), India
e mail: mrcassam@hotmail.com, vas@mrcindia.org
Telephone +91-361-2786211
Fax: + 91 361 263633
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