Nadda urged officials to primarily focus on high burden states and regions where outbreaks are frequently reported and to proactively work with states to bring tangible results on dengue prevention.
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, JP Nadda chaired a high-level meeting to review the dengue situation across the country. The meeting also took stock of the preparedness of public health system for prevention, containment and management of dengue in view of the onset of monsoon and the rise in dengue cases globally.
The health minister was briefed on the nationwide dengue situation and preparedness of the ministry. It was informed that the Dengue Case Fatality Rate has reduced from 3.3 per cent (1996) to 0.1 per cent in 2024 as a result of focused, timely and collaborative activities. Nadda emphasized the importance of being prepared against dengue, underlining the challenge posed by the onset of monsoon and the threat of increasing number of dengue cases during the rainy season. He directed officials to gear up and strengthen prevention, containment and management measures against dengue.
Nadda also urged officials to primarily focus on high burden states and regions where outbreaks are frequently reported. He urged officials to proactively work with the state governments to bring tangible results on dengue prevention. He particularly stressed on inter-ministerial convergence meeting involving Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Rural Development, Education Ministry and municipal corporations and local self government bodies for sensitisation on their roles and responsibilities for dengue prevention and control.
Proactive communication
The health minister stated that the centre has been proactively communicating with the states on timely action for prevention and control of dengue activities. Various inter-sectoral meetings have been conducted to sensitize the stakeholders and ministries on their role and responsibilities on prevention and control of dengue. He informed that these activities will be further strengthen incoming years. “Union government has been, over the period of time, providing technical and budgetary support,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of communication and awareness enhancement activities, the Health Minister stated that in order to sensitise communities regarding the ades mosquito which generally bites in the daytime, awareness campaign among school going children and others to wear clothes that keep the body fully covered, and keeping various water containers, pots etc., free of stagnant water will be taken up at a massive scale. A nationwide information-education-communication campaign for awareness through TV, radio and social media platforms will be taken up across the country.
The union health minister directed for the officials to create a 24/7 central helpline number for dengue prevention and awareness, and support for queries on the symptoms, treatment protocols and help during emergency situation. States were also advised to operationalize similar Helpline numbers.
He directed AIIMS and all central government hospitals to have dedicated dengue wards that are fully equipped with trained manpower, drugs and other logistics. They have also been instructed to create a referral system to optimally utilize their clinical facilities.
Concrete actions
Dr. Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) highlighted the need for sensitizing municipal bodies in states for preventing dengue outbreaks. He also suggested improving coolers and tanks in buildings to make them immune from mosquito breeding.
He mentioned that central teams are deputed to states on regular basis for review of disease situation. Adequate diagnostic kits both for Dengue and Chikungunya have also been provided to the states.
The Union Government has issued 14 advisories in 2024 for sensitization of states on preparedness for prevention and control of dengue and chikungunya. Various high-level meetings have been held to provide technical guidance to states from time to time.
Updated national guidelines of case management were released by the government. For free diagnosis and disease surveillance, the number of Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals has been increased from 110 in 2007 to 848 in 2024. Master trainers from medical colleges and district hospitals were trained in four national level trainings on updated guidelines for improving clinical management and avert deaths due to dengue.
