A joint meeting to mark World Malaria Day was successfully organized by NAVBD and RMRC-Bhubaneswar on April 29, 2026, bringing together leading experts, policymakers, researchers, and public health professionals to deliberate on strategies for malaria elimination.

The event was graced by eminent dignitaries including Padmashree Prof. A. P. Dash, Former Vice Chancellor of CUTN and Regional Adviser, WHO-SEARO; Dr. Sanghamitra Pati, Additional Director General, ICMR; Dr. Suchitra Sasmal, Senior Regional Director, ROHFW; Dr. Subhasisha Mohanty, Additional Director, Health Department, Government of Odisha; Dr. V. Arun Nagaraj, Senior Scientist, ILS; and Prof. Jaykrushna Panigrahi, Working President, OES.

Welcoming the participants, Dr. M. R. Ranjit, Secretary, NAVBD, emphasized the importance of observing global public health campaigns such as World Malaria Day to sustain awareness and collective action against malaria.

Dr. Sanghamitra Pati highlighted the urgent need for mobilization of government resources and reinforced India’s commitment to achieving malaria elimination by 2030. Dr. Suchitra Sasmal provided an overview of the global malaria situation, underlining both progress made and persistent challenges.

Dr. Subhasisha Mohanty presented Odisha’s success stories in malaria control and reiterated the state government’s strong commitment toward achieving elimination targets by 2030. Dr. V. Arun Nagaraj discussed promising research developments, particularly the potential for discovering highly effective new antimalarial drugs.

In his address, Prof. A. P. Dash stressed the critical role of public-private partnerships in malaria elimination, drawing from his extensive experience in the field.

The meeting witnessed active participation from around 150 attendees representing government bodies, academic institutions, research organizations, and the public, reflecting a strong multi-sectoral commitment to combating malaria.

The event concluded with a shared resolve to strengthen collaboration, innovation, and resource mobilization to accelerate progress toward a malaria-free future.