Mangaluru : A mobile malaria detection unit of the State government providing free services at the doorsteps of people was launched on a pilot basis here on Saturday.

People can get tested and treated at this vehicle launched by the Department of Health and Family Welfare.

People can also call 9448556872 and give the address and health workers will arrive at the residence within 30 minutes.

They will test the blood on a rapid testing kit and if it showed positive for malaria, the patient will be given the entire course of medicines.

If the kit shows a negative result, the health workers will collect the blood smears and get it tested at centres in the Government Wenlock Hospital or the Malaria Testing Centre at the Mangaluru City Corporation.

If this test showed positive, the team will visit the house of the patient and give medicines. Patient need not pay any fee either for testing or treatment.

Joint Director for Malaria and Filaria, B.G. Prakash, said it was the first such mobile unit for preventing malaria in the State.

It was launched in Mangaluru as it had highest number of cases.

“We are trying this on a pilot basis with only one van. If it succeeds, more vehicles will be hired and pressed into service,” he said.

District Vector Borne Disease Control Officer Arun Kumar S.B. said the other reason for starting the mobile unit was the lack of response for treatment kiosks set up at six different places in the city.

Dr. Arun Kumar said that six health personnel have been trained to test and provide medicines to those tested positive for Malaria.

A separate register would be maintained for the calls received and for details of each person who has been tested.

Details of those tested positive would be given to the corporation personnel, who will be uploading it to the MCC Malaria Control Software for follow-up action for preventing breeding of malaria parasite carrying mosquitoes.

Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader launched the mobile unit.