The multi-state EMBED (Elimination of Mosquito-Borne Endemic Diseases) initiative has completed a decade of work, recording notable progress in reducing malaria and dengue in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. The milestone was marked at an event attended by senior government officials, health organizations, and representatives from Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), which supports the program.
To accelerate its next phase, EMBED introduced two new digital platforms — the Community Health Volunteer App and the Supply Chain App. The Community Health Volunteer App allows local health workers and volunteers to conduct fever and larvae surveys digitally using real-time dashboards, geo-tracking, and automated reminders. The Supply Chain App digitizes the movement of medicines, diagnostic kits, and prevention tools, offering officials clear visibility of stocks and distribution patterns across districts.
EMBED, launched in 2015 with Family Health India and the Center for Health Research and Innovation, has so far reached 27 lakh households across 32 districts, covering 8,000 slums and 14,000 villages, and impacting over 28 million people from marginalized communities.
In Maharashtra, the government adopted EMBED in 2023. The program now operates in Thane, Palghar, and Mumbai, focusing on slum clusters vulnerable to dengue and malaria outbreaks. It currently covers 1,536 slums, reaching 2.8 lakh households and 13.6 lakh people, and has trained 110 ASHA workers.
In rural regions — Gadchiroli, Gondia, and Chandrapur — the initiative spans 1,502 villages, touching 2.03 lakh households and 10 lakh people with the support of 325 ASHA workers. Efforts include creating awareness on disease transmission, identifying and eliminating breeding sites, and ensuring early diagnosis and treatment.
Reflecting on the progress, Sudhir Sitapati, MD & CEO, Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), said, “Over the past 10 years, our CSR efforts through EMBED have brought visible change, and I congratulate the entire ecosystem from ASHA works, healthcare to local volunteers who made this possible.”
GCPL stated that the program aligns with its Good & Green philosophy and has helped strengthen community health systems. EMBED is being positioned as a scalable model for states working toward India’s target of malaria elimination by 2030.
