Spotting symptoms to referring cases: 'Pujaris' help in Gadchiroli's malaria fight ('PUJARIS' GET RS 15 FOR REFERRING A PATIENT, RS 500 IF THE PATIENT TURNS OUT TO BE MALARIA POSITIVE), Pg3

Key Highlights:

• In Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, the government is training 1,759 pujaris to identify malaria symptoms and refer cases to health workers.
• Pujaris receive Rs 15 for each referral and Rs 500 if the patient tests positive for malaria.
• Gadchiroli is among India's 10 worst-performing malaria-endemic districts, despite accounting for only 1% of Maharashtra's population.
• In 2025, Gadchiroli reported 7,293 malaria cases and 14 deaths.

Detailed Insights:

• The initiative addresses delays in seeking medical care due to traditional beliefs, where families often consult pujaris first, attributing illnesses to supernatural causes.
• The Maharashtra government launched an intensified malaria elimination program in 2025 with a dedicated task force and community-based strategies.
• SEARCH, a non-profit, has been working for three decades to bridge the gap between traditional beliefs and modern medicine in the district.
• The district's geography, with over 70% forest cover and high rainfall, contributes to high malaria transmission rates, especially during July-August and December-January.
• The government plans to train pujaris to use rapid diagnostic kits and address other health concerns like childbirth, anemia and sickle cell.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Pujari: A traditional faith healer in tribal communities, often the first point of contact for healthcare.
• Annual Parasite Incidence (API): The number of new malaria cases per 1,000 population per year, used to measure malaria burden.
• Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA): A community health worker who raises awareness and facilitates access to healthcare services.