JP Nadda warns CM about spread of dengue, malaria
He had reviewed the reparatory activities with the principal secretaries of 20 high-burden states, including Delhi, on April 27.
New Delhi: In view of the monsoon season, Union health minister J.P. Nadda has written to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, emphasising on the need for implementing preventive and control measures to check the spread of dengue and other vector-borne diseases.
Mr Nadda has called for strengthening of vector-control activities with deployment of trained personnel and availability of logistics in the municipal corporations.
The Union minister also asked the Delhi government to ensure that all identified laboratories are equipped with diagnostic facilities for testing of dengue, chikungunya and malaria.
Mr Nadda asked Mr Kejriwal to ensure adequate number of beds, drugs and other relevant logistics in hospitals so that “nobody is denied treatment at the health facilities”.
The Delhi government can, if need be, also utilise the services of master trainers from the ministry for training of clinicians on case management, he added.
Mr Nadda also emphasised on carrying out information, education and communication (IEC) campaign with involvement of the community, including local bodies, RWAs and schools to ensure people’s participation in preventing mosquito breeding and taking precaution.
“It has been observed from the reports received by us that the number of dengue and malaria cases in Delhi is on the rise in recent times,” the Union minister said in his letter.
He had reviewed the reparatory activities with the principal secretaries of 20 high-burden states, including Delhi, on April 27.
Again on May 12, the minister held a discussion with senior officials of the Delhi government and municipal corporations on the situation and the way forward for preventing dengue and other vector-borne diseases in Delhi.
At least 29 cases of malaria have been reported in the first three weeks of July in Delhi, taking the total number of people affected by the vector-borne disease in the national capital this season to 75, according to a municipal report.
“Both dengue and malaria have different carriers. Therefore, it is not unusual for malaria cases to be reported in larger number compared to dengue,” a senior doctor at a government-run hospital said.
“People must take precautions such as wearing full-sleeve clothes and not allowing breeding of mosquito larvae inside homes,” he added.