**Acronyms**



antimalarials and upgradation of drug-treatment policy, human resource development and field-evaluation of newer technologies, including innovative vector control approaches, are vital before these are incorporated in the control program. Disease epidemiology is rapidly changing in the face of fast urbanization, deforestation and anomalous weather conditions opening new vistas, which must be watched for targeting interventions in place and time. Mosquito vectors are invading new territories, and adapting to altered ecology establishing outdoor transmission in response to strengthening insecticide interventions, which are largely based on indoor residual applications. We strongly advocate the judicious mix of technologies used in an integrated manner to overcome the challenges of outdoor transmission and growing insecticide resistance threatening the efficacy of present day intervention tools. There remains of scope of newer interventions in Indian geo-epidemiological conditions, namely, eave tubes, attractive sugar baits, nano-synthesized pesticides loaded with microbial- and plant-borne compounds, for trapping adult mosquito vectors and population reduction presently being put to field evaluation in African countries (Beier, personal communication). It is the high time to strengthen the entomological component at the State/Zonal level for monitoring vector densities and insecticide resistance targeting interventions averting impending disease outbreaks. Above all, educating communities and stakeholders on disease prevention and control should be the guiding principle for increased compliance and harmonious action. Increased allocation of resources (both from State and Central assistance), for ensuring universal coverage of interventions, should be given utmost priority in reducing parasite reservoir much below threshold density disrupting transmission [87]. It is time accelerating towards elimination and let there be no complacency at various echelons of operation for keeping disease at bay. Outside Africa, Southeast Asia is the largest contributor of cases and source of spread of drug-resistant malaria for which it is strongly advocated that larger share of global investments in this part of the World would go a long way in alleviating poverty and malaria. In summary, given the enormity of disease burden and myriad of issues, odds are all against, yet concerted efforts should be made in rendering malaria a thing of the past;

We are thankful to Professor S. Manguin (Montpellier, France) for inviting us to contribute this article for this compilation, and the Directorate of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Directorate of Health Services, Government of India for grant of permission to

together we can beat malaria.

272 Towards Malaria Elimination - A Leap Forward

ACT artemisinin-based combination therapy AIM action and investment to defeat malaria

**Acknowledgements**

data access.

**Acronyms**
