How did the local government, a thinktank, tiffin box delivery men and a superhero reduce infections so dramatically?

Indians take to the streets in celebration as monsoon clouds burst open each June. Heavy seasonal rains are a welcomed relief from intense summer and, importantly, they recharge drinking water supplies that dip to drought levels in the dry months. But although most people celebrate the monsoon, prolonged wet weather presents public health concerns.Malaria and dengue fever are rampant during this season as mosquitoes – the transmitters of these tropical diseases – breed in flooded areas.

In Mumbai, the number of malaria cases spiked to 775 in just five daysin 2010. The press deemed it “malaria mayhem”, and by the end of the year, the city had more than 76,000 people infected. The municipal corporation decided it was time to act and set a goal to reduce the number of malaria cases by 80%. In just three years, their strategic approach has hit the target, and the programme has stood out as a nationwide model.

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