Agartala, June 3 (TIWN): Tripura is running low on tackling vector borne diseases, Additional Director of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme Dr. Avadesh Kumar said.

Addressing the inaugural session of a three day review meeting about progress in vector borne disease control at Prajna Bhawan in Agartala on Tuesday, Dr. Kumar said that most states from the NE region have done good in tackling vector borne diseases including Malaria. Tripura performed miserably in implementing the project, he said.

Speaking in the presence of Badal Choudhury, who was entrusted with the responsibility of the Health and Family Welfare Department last week, Dr. Kumar said that there are confirmed reports of prevalence of Malaria in several areas of Gomati and Dhalai districts. The state could utilize 21 percent of the entire bulk of funds sanctioned for the state in 2013-2014, he added.

The official expressed serious concern over the future of vector borne disease control programme in Tripura and said that if situation didn’t improve, high possibilities of massive reduction in fund allocation from the global funding authority for eradication of vector borne diseases couldn’t be ruled out. The national performance is maligned for low performance of states like Tripura, he said.

Finance Minister Badal Choudhury said later in his speech that he couldn’t affirm any report due to his short tenure of charge of the Department. “I will be able to tell things in more specifics if such meets happen few months from now”, the minister said.

State project Officer for the NCBDCP Dr. BB Das said later during the inaugural session that funds were approved for the state but they couldn’t be spent due to lack of approval of recruiting required workforce. “We are given funds but twe don’t have the official approval to recruit health officers. We tried to induct 500 MPWs. Barely 65 turned up. How are these funds supposed to be spent if we don’t have the required manpower?” Das asked.

Tripura is currently having a crude death rate of 5.0 against the national average of 7.1, Infant Mortality Rate is 29. Sex ratio in the state stands at 961 (as compared to 940 for the country).