Centre asks states to develop plans on vector-borne diseases

With a predicted rise in vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria during the monsoon season, the Centre on Tuesday asked states to develop micro-plans for endemic districts and underlined the need for undertaking house-to-house surveillance for its prevention.

The Union Health Ministry also asked states to review and strengthen coordination between municipal bodies and other departments to keep public and private buildings vector free. With a predicted rise in dengue, malaria, Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Tuesday reviewed the status of such diseases and preparation of states through video conferencing.

Stressing on the importance of inter-sectoral coordination and convergence of efforts in not only the prevention but also management of vector borne diseases, Nadda advised them (states) to review and strengthen inter-sectoral coordination...

“...With municipal corporations and departments of sanitation, drinking water and urban development for more focused efforts such as keeping premises of all public and private buildings free of vector-breeding,” an official statement quoting him said.

Nadda interacted with Health ministers and senior officials of Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, MP, Telangana, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh. “Municipal Corporations need to undertake house-to-house surveillance for more effective prevention and breeding control,” Nadda said during the meeting.At least 39 cases of dengue have been reported in the national capital this year with 11 of these recorded in the month of July, according to a municipal report released yesterday.

Amidst concerns that hospitals, including the premiere institute All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi, are “breeding ground” for dengue mosquitoes, Nadda had recently also directed heads of all hospitals in Delhi to ensure that their premises are “mosquito-free”. Nadda also assured the states of all necessary support to enhance their capacity to manage these diseases as he emphasised that effective surveillance and monitoring was key to success in combating these diseases.