The multi-state malaria elimination initiative EMBED (Elimination of Mosquito-Borne Endemic Diseases) has completed 10 years of operations, reporting significant progress in reducing malaria and dengue cases across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. A special event was held in Pune to mark the milestone, attended by government officials, health bodies, and representatives from Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), which supports the program.
To strengthen the next phase of the initiative, two new digital tools were launched — the Community Health Volunteer App and the Supply Chain App. The Community Health Volunteer App allows ASHA workers and volunteers to conduct fever and larvae surveys using real-time data collection, geo-tracking, dashboards, and automated reminders. The Supply Chain App digitizes the distribution of medicines, test kits, and diagnostic tools, helping officials monitor inventory, track supplies, and address shortages across villages and districts.
EMBED, a flagship CSR program of GCPL, aims to reduce malaria and dengue positivity rates through behaviour change communication, training of frontline workers, and community awareness. Since its launch in 2015 in partnership with Family Health India and the Center for Health Research and Innovation, the program has reached 27 lakh households across 32 districts, covering more than 8,000 slums and 14,000 villages. It has impacted over 28 million people from economically vulnerable and marginalized communities.
In Maharashtra, the state government adopted the program in 2023. EMBED currently operates in the districts of Thane, Palghar, and Mumbai, focusing on slum clusters where dengue and malaria risks are high. The program now covers 1,536 slums, reaching 2.8 lakh households and impacting a population of 13.6 lakh, while training 110 ASHA workers.
The initiative also works extensively in rural Maharashtra, covering Gadchiroli, Gondia, and Chandrapur. Here, the program reaches 1,502 villages, 2.03 lakh households, and a population of 10 lakh, supported by 325 ASHA workers. Activities include community mobilization, identifying mosquito breeding sites, and strengthening early diagnosis and treatment.
“Over the past 10 years, our CSR efforts through EMBED have brought visible change,” said Sudhir Sitapati, MD & CEO of GCPL, acknowledging the contributions of ASHA workers, healthcare teams, and community volunteers.
GCPL stated that the program aligns with the Godrej Group’s Good & Green philosophy and provides a scalable model for other states aiming to strengthen health systems and advance India’s goal of eliminating malaria by 2030.
