Health Programme Evaluation: Experience from Malaria in Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal

Introduction: Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal is chloroquine resistant high endemic zone with API >5 and Pf >30% in 2004. There is gap in early diagnosis and complete treatment of malaria which is responsible for heavy disease burden. Hence present study was conducted evaluating this component of malaria control programme in the Tea Gardens Hospitals of Jalpaiguri district. Methodology: Community and Facility based survey was conducted in Tea Garden Hospitals of Malbazar block of Jalpaiguri district. Medical officers, laboratory technicians, ANMs, ASHAs and 5 randomly selected patients were interviewed. Results: Out of 28 Tea Garden Hospitals, 1(3.6%) had functional microscopy centre, 7 (25%) had qualified registered medical officers. ABER & API was 18.8% & 1.1 respectively. Plasmodium falciparum percentage was 45%. Out of 28 hospitals, 7.2% observed anti malaria month, 17.8% had wall writings on malaria health education and 43% distributed IEC materials. Conclusion: Most of the tea garden hospitals were either ill equipped or lagging behind in changing the behaviour of their beneficiaries.