Bengal remembers Sir Ronald Ross on World Malaria Day-2023
Highlighting West Bengal Progress in Malaria Elimination in the lab where Sir Ronald Ross discovered the root-cause of transmission of Malaria in Kolkata Kolkata, West Bengal: The West Bengal Department of Health and Family welfare celebrated World Malaria Day, 25 April, 2023 at the very lab where Sir Ronald Ross discovered the mode of transmission of Malaria over a century ago. The event highlighted the progress made by West Bengal and India in the elimination of malaria and recognize the pioneering work of Sir Ronald Ross. Sir Ronald Ross, a British physician and scientist, made his ground-breaking discovery in Kolkata in 1897. He identified that the female Anopheles mosquito was responsible for transmitting malaria, which at the time was a leading cause of death in India. His discovery paved the way for significant advancements in the prevention and treatment of malaria. “Sir Ronald Ross’s discovery was a turning point in the fight against malaria,” said Prof. (Dr.) Manimoy Bandyopadhyay, Director of IPGME&R and SSKM Hospital. “It is a great honour to celebrate World Malaria Day at the very laboratory where this historic discovery was made. ” The theme for World Malaria Day 2023 is “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement”. This theme emphasizes the need for scientific experts, donor agencies/ partners and the government to come together in the fight against malaria. In West Bengal, significant progress has been made in the elimination of malaria, with 66368 cases in year 2011 to 40594 malaria cases in year 2022. “We are proud of the progress made in India’s fight against malaria and we are committed to achieving zero malaria in West Bengal,” said Dr. Siddhartha Niyogi, The Director of Health Services, Govt. of West Bengal “But there is still much work to be done. We must continue to prioritize malaria elimination and invest in the necessary resources to achieve our goals.” The World Malaria Day 2023 celebrations at IPGME&R and SSKM Hospital included a series of events and activities, including a session on the latest advancements in malaria research and treatment, changing clinical profile of Malaria in India, a community outreach program to raise awareness about the importance of malaria prevention, and a special ceremony to honour the legacy of Sir Ronald Ross. The event was attended by Public Health Officials of the Department, representatives from Regional Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, WHO and Kolkata based Medical Colleges. “We are excited to host this year’s World Malaria Day celebrations at IPGME&R and SSKM Hospital,” said Dr. Debashis Bhattacharya, The Director of Medical Education, Govt. of West Bengal, “This is an opportunity to recognize the progress made in the fight against malaria and to renew our commitment to eliminate this disease once and for all.” The celebrations at SSKM Hospital will serve as a reminder that the fight against malaria is far from over. But with continued commitment and collaboration, we can achieve zero malaria and ensure a healthier future.
