NHM Reviews Spreading Of Vector Borne Disease, Conference Held

HT Bureau

Guwahati, July 6: The National Health Mission (NHM), Assam on Wednesday held a video conference at the city’s NHM headquarters and reviewed the prevailing cases of water and vector borne diseases reported from different parts of the state.

The conference was chaired by NHM, Assam mission director Dr. M S Lakshmi Priya along with the officials from the state integrated disease surveillance programme and national vector borne disease control programme, Assam. The objective of the conference was to handle the spread of water borne and vector borne diseases in the state. The NHM authority said that with the flood waters recede and inmates of relief camps returning to their houses, consumption of contaminated drinking water and subsequent health issues have been reported from some pockets in the districts.

During the review meeting, NHM mission director Dr MS Lakshmi Priya, Assam instructed all the district health teams to intensify the monitoring and timely reporting of fever cases to authorities for timely follow up and action. The mission director said that the state is currently undergoing the transmission season for Japanese Encephalitis cases.

According to the NHM, Assam, a total of 6 deaths (2 at Jorhat, 1 each at Kamrup Rural, Lakhmipur, Nagaon and Dhemaji), in the middle of April and July has been reported. At the same time, a total of 48 JE cases have been reported from districts till 6 July, while altogether 143 AES and 16 AES deaths have been reported till 6 July.

In the meantime, 19 dengue cases have been reported from the districts till date. “The situation in the state is under close watch and all preventive measures are being taken to combat the situation. It is to be noted that JE tests are available free of cost in all district hospitals and Government medical colleges and hospitals,” Dr Lakshmi Priya said.

The NHM mission director further said that in villages and areas where JE cases have been reported, intensified awareness generation through leaflet distribution, miking, house visits by health workers and intensive fogging operations have been carried out. Adding that the transportation of suspected fever cases from community to district hospital and medical colleges are prioritised by 108 ambulances.

She further said, “Mass awareness campaigns through print, electronic and social media platforms are also ongoing to make the people aware on the signs and symptoms of JE and post flood diseases to mitigate any outbreaks.”