KARACHI:Malaria Control Program Sindh has been facing financial crisis for one year and the program management is compelled to suspend malaria control activities throughout Sindh province.
Sources at Sindh Malaria Control Program told PPI that federal government had stopped funding of vertical programs from June 2017 after end of PC-I and directed the all provincial governments to approach Council of Common Interests (CCI) for further extension.
However, Sindh health department authorities concerned has shown lack of interest and delayed to approach CCI for further extension.
On the other hand, Sindh health department has also not released Rs400million to Sindh Malaria Control Program for malaria control activities from January 2018 to December 2018.
Currently, there are 1700 employees working across the province under Sindh Malaria Control Program and Sindh government is giving salaries to them on regular basis.
However, malaria control activities, procurements of medicines, fumigation, awareness programs and other activities have been suspended due to shortage of funds.
It was feared that Sindh might face outbreak of malaria in coming months if funds not releases for control activities.
In 2018, Malaria Control Program Sindh had recorded 109, 000 malaria positive cases across the Sindh province. However, no any death was reported from malaria last year.
Manager, Malaria Control Program Sindh, Mohammad Abbas Gopang was not available for comments.