Pune: PMC Trains 500 ASHA Workers With Malaria Slide Kits To Strengthen Early Detection And Control
Pune: PMC Trains 500 ASHA Workers With Malaria Slide Kits To Strengthen Early Detection And Control
Pune, October 2, 2025: Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has ramped up efforts for the early diagnosis of malaria patients. A total of 500 ASHA workers have been trained and equipped with malaria slide kits to ensure timely detection and treatment.
Due to increasing industrialization and urbanization, the city sees significant migration from other districts and states. Rapid construction and expanding settlements cause water accumulation during rains, creating ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes and increasing the risk of malaria. Early detection and treatment of patients are critical to controlling the spread of the disease.
PMC conducts both direct and indirect surveys. In direct surveys, malaria slides are collected at the community level for immediate treatment. Until the Malaria Department is fully staffed, ASHA workers are trained and prepared to assist, following state government guidelines. In August, 200 ASHA workers completed training and received malaria slide kits.
In collaboration with Idiada Automotive Technology India Pvt. Ltd., PMC’s Pest Control Department identified the need for 300 additional ASHA workers and slide kits. The CSR team of Idiada Automotive, led by Dipali Kale, coordinated with Assistant Health Officer Dr. Rajesh Dighe to strengthen ASHA support during the Navratri festival.
The program was chaired by PMC Health Officer Dr. Neena Borade, with Divya Pant (Head HR, Idiada Automotive) and Dinesh Kadam (CEO, Worship Earth Foundation) in attendance. The training was conducted by PMC Health Department officials: Sandesh Deshpande, Mithila Rande, Shobha Bankar, Vishal Rupnar, and Nitin Vichare.
The event concluded with the distribution of malaria slide kits to ASHA workers, who pledged to play a key role in malaria eradication in Pune.
