Ranchi, May 15: Alarmed at the increasing number of incidents of malaria in the state, the health department today began spraying DDT in different areas to check the growth of mosquitoes.

The department has also decided to take the help of NGOs in combating the “killer disease”.

Sources in the health department said the government would make medicated mosquito nets available in malaria-prone villages.

“We will take the help of NGOs in conducting surveys in malaria-prone villages. All ordinary mosquito nets will be treated with a special kind of chemical which keeps mosquitoes away,” sources said.

The department will also set up drug distribution centres at the village-level. People can get free malaria medicines from these centres.

A high-level Central team visited Jharkhand recently and along with senior health officials they reviewed the various measures undertaken by the state government in combating the disease.

The Central team comprised Union health ministry officials Pradeep Gupta, Jyotsana Shokhe and Kaushal Srivastava.

“It has been decided that the responsibility of malaria cases or deaths will rest on doctors and the ANMs. They have been asked to strengthen the vigil system so that the cases are treated well in advance,” sources added.

Sources said the department will also take the help of NGOs for testing the malarial parasite. The department is facing an acute shortage of laboratory technicians. Last year the department had decided to appoint lab technicians but the process got entangled in official procedures. Even as the spraying of DDT began today in most of the districts, in Ranchi the work will begin from Monday as the DDT bags did not arrive on time from Delhi.

“In Ranchi 22,000 medicated mosquito nets will be distributed among the villagers in Adki block. We will soon get the mosquito nets. For spraying of DDT help of NGOs are being taken. The volunteers of the NGOs will be given training in the primary health centres,” said district administration sources.

The department has also decided to intensify TB control programme in the state. The Central team has assured the state officials that it would soon release the money and resources to carry out the programme in Jharkhand.