The multi-state EMBED (Elimination of Mosquito-Borne Endemic Diseases) program has completed a decade of operations, marking major progress in reducing malaria and dengue cases across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. The milestone was marked at a ceremony attended by senior government officials, public health representatives, and Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), which supports the initiative.
As part of its next phase, the program introduced two technology-led platforms — the Community Health Volunteer App and the Supply Chain App. The Community Health Volunteer App enables ASHA workers and local volunteers to conduct fever and larvae surveys digitally with real-time data, geo-tracking, dashboards, and alerts. The Supply Chain App replaces manual inventory systems by digitizing the distribution of medicines and diagnostic kits, helping officials monitor supplies, track shortages, and ensure timely delivery across districts.
Launched in 2015, EMBED is GCPL’s flagship CSR initiative implemented with Family Health India and the Center for Health Research and Innovation. Over the past ten years, the program has reached 27 lakh households across 32 districts, covering 8,000 slums, 14,000 villages, and impacting 28 million people, particularly from vulnerable communities.
In Maharashtra, the program was adopted in 2023. It now covers Thane, Palghar, and Mumbai, focusing on dense slum clusters that face higher mosquito-borne disease risks. The initiative works across 1,536 slums, reaching 2.8 lakh households and 13.6 lakh people, and has trained 110 ASHA workers.
EMBED is also active in rural areas of Gadchiroli, Gondia, and Chandrapur, reaching 1,502 villages, 2.03 lakh households, and 10 lakh people with the support of 325 ASHA workers. Efforts include community awareness, eliminating breeding sites, and strengthening early diagnosis and complete treatment.
“Over the past 10 years, our CSR efforts through EMBED have brought visible change,” said Sudhir Sitapati, MD & CEO, GCPL, acknowledging the work of ASHA workers, healthcare teams, and volunteers.
GCPL said the initiative aligns with its Good & Green philosophy and has helped strengthen public health systems. The company added that EMBED serves as a scalable model for states working toward India’s target of eliminating malaria by 2030.
