A two-day national conclave on urban pest management and vector-borne disease control concluded in Ahmedabad, uniting public health leaders to tackle rising dengue, malaria, and chikungunya cases in India’s cities.
Organised by the Indian Society for Malaria and Other Communicable Diseases (ISMOCD) with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and supported by Envu India, the event drew experts from national programmes, Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), academia, and international scientists. Key sessions covered AI-assisted surveillance, the WHO’s Integrated Vector Management, the Urban Malaria Scheme, and innovations in insecticides.
Envu India highlighted global experience from Malaysia’s iDEM programme, advocating WHO-prequalified water-based larvicides over diesel-heavy fogging, which CSE research shows consumes 4.5 lakh litres in Delhi alone per season.
“Vector-borne diseases, caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites, account for over 17% of infectious diseases globally, all transmitted through vectors. India has made remarkable progress in controlling these diseases. Malaria deaths have declined from eight lakh annually at independence to just 83 in 2023. Kala-azar cases dropped from 9,241 in 2014 to 449 in 2024, nearing elimination, while over 100 districts have eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem. Dengue mortality has also reduced significantly. These achievements reflect India’s sustained commitment to disease control,” said Padma Shri Prof. Dr. Aditya Prasad Dash, former Vice Chancellor, Central University of Tamil Nadu, and former WHO Adviser.
He added, “India aims to eliminate malaria, lymphatic filariasis, and kala-azar by 2030. Achieving this, especially in urban areas, requires stronger collaboration among scientific institutions, government bodies, and municipal agencies. Growing partnerships between academia, industry, and research organisations in innovation, technology transfer, and policy are key to this effort. Strengthening such collaborations will be critical for achieving India’s Sustainable Development Goals.”
Dr. Bhavin Solanki, AMC Medical Officer, praised Envu’s inputs: “Conclaves like this strengthen collaborations for measurable results.”
M. Arun Kumar, Envu India MD, added: “India’s cities are ready for advanced mosquito control. Envu is committed long-term alongside public health institutions.”
Envu welcomes partnerships with urban bodies for larvicidal transitions to interrupt breeding cycles effectively.
