Mangaluru: The Health Department has come with a innovative way to make treatment for malaria easily available. Henceforth, treatment for malaria can be easily availed through a call.

A person showing symptoms of malaria need only call 944856972. Soon a paramedic from the health department will visit the patients home and collect blood samples to determine if the patient is indeed suffering from malaria or not. If the results are positive, then the patient will be prescribed a treatment. The facility is available round the clock.

According to the system, people must contact the health department at 944856972 and provide their address of residence. Soon a paramedic will visit them to collect their blood samples.

Malaria needs to be rooted out and for that, the public must maintain clean surroundings. Construction sites should take more precautionary measures to prevent malaria as most of the cases are found among construction workers and those who reside near construction sites, said Dr Ramakrishan Rao, DK District Health Officer (DHO) at a press conference giving details of the new initiative of the health department against malaria, on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion District Malaria Officer Dr Arun Kumar said that of the 494 cases found in Dakshina Kannada district from January to April 22nd, 432 cases of malaria were found within Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC). Therefore extra care needs to be taken against malaria disease within MCC limits, she advised.