Bhubaneswar, Feb. 16: The state government will launch a scheme from next month to combat the rising mosquito menace.

The programme has been named Daman. Apart from creating awareness, the programme will provide tips on how to keep malaria at bay. The government will also distribute medicated mosquito nets to the people as part of the programme.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting last evening presided by health secretary P.K. Meherda.

Despite the state government's fight against the mosquito menace, nearly 100 people get affected by malaria every year, of whom about 28 people die. However, the good sign is that the government's attempt to collect more blood samples to detect the disease is yielding fruits with sample collection growing by 16.37 per cent compared to the last three years. Officials said that to detect malaria in patients, the state government would procure four digital microscopes.

"We have also deployed nearly 45,000 accredited social activists to detect malaria among rural people. This year, we will improve their capacity building, and accordingly, training programme will be organised. They will also be provided with the required kits for the purpose," said a health department official.

A committee has been formed to keep tab on the state's preparedness to fight the malaria menace. The team members include directors of the directorate of medical education and training and public health departments.

"The committee will suggest on what should be done in the malaria-prone areas," said an official.

Under the Daman scheme, the state government will initiate steps to free Puri, Cuttack, Khurda, Balasore, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Jagatsingpur and Bhadrak districts of the mosquito menace. In other districts, such as Bargarh, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, Nayagarh, Sonepur, Balangir, Boudh, Nuapada and Dhenkanal, steps will be taken to identify the malaria-prone areas and strategies will be prepared to fight the disease accordingly.

Officials said that after identification of the malaria-prone areas, medicated mosquito nets will be distributed among people of those areas.

"We will also conduct a drive to keep the environment clean. Otherwise, the anti-malaria steps will not yield the desired results," he said.

Last year, more than 200 children had died of Japanese encephalitis in the state.