With an aim to provide treatment for vector borne diseases amid monsoon, Delhi Government has activated 24X7 services in its hospitals and will issue an order to all private hospitals and nursing homes to increase beds to admit patient in emergency. In addition to this, Delhi Government will also establish 500 fever clinics in healthcare facilities across the national Capital, according to statement issued by Delhi Government's health department said.
These decisions were taken during a meeting held by Health Minister Satyendar Jain with senior officials of the department and other stakeholder agencies.
So far 63 cases of dengue and 175 cases of chikunguniya have been registered according to a database of local civic agencies.
A review meeting was held to check the preparedness and status of the actions taken for the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, chikungunya and seasonal influenza.
A special emphasis was on the across the border transmission of vector borne diseases.
The government is also coordinating with neighbouring states and if, there was an increasing trend of vector borne diseases in any of the neighbouring states and districts, timely control measures could be taken in other adjoining areas like Sonipat, Rewari, Rohtak, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Mewat, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Gautam Budh Nagar, the statement said.
Besides, a control room at the headquarters of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) had been made functional 24x7 with helpline numbers (22307145, 22300012) to address the queries and grievances of public regarding vector borne diseases and seasonal influenza among others.
Jain also directed for strict implementation of prevention measures for vector borne diseases and called for vector control and community awareness activities in identified high-risk wards, underprivileged areas and unauthorised colonies among others.
“A mechanism will be developed for monitoring of field staff by senior level officers of respective local body and the Health Department should monitor by randomly calling different households whether domestic breeding checker (DBC) visited their house,” Delhi government official statement quoted.
Helpline numbers regarding details of DBCs and field workers along with their work schedule would be advertised in leading newspapers in vernacular languages.
In case of no visit by the DBC, people might lodge complaints and inform about the status of visits by DBCs or field workers in their respective areas on the given helpline number.
All construction sites would be visited by field staff of local bodies on a weekly basis to check and eliminate breeding sites and a board containing information regarding vector control measures must be displayed there.
A minimum of 10 community awareness trainings would be conducted in each assembly and nodal officers of hospitals and dispensaries would be the trainers.
Eleven district surveillance officers would coordinate and sensitise the medical officer of the dispensaries of their respective districts regarding prevention and control of vector borne diseases, and further sensitise the community at peripheral level.
Medical and paramedical staff of school health scheme will be involved in conducting trainings at schools. A detailed proposal covering all government and government aided schools would be submitted to the health secretary.
“Swacchh Bharat Abhiyaan should be linked with vector borne disease awareness campaign. Community should be motivated to spare one hour every Sunday for cleaning of their households and surroundings during the transmission season,” the health ministers said.
