Subsequent to the high level review of the status of Dengue, Malaria and Chikungunya by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda, Shri C K Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare held a meeting to review preparedness of various agencies to prevent and manage Chikungunya and Dengue in the National Capital, here today. Representatives and senior officers from Delhi Government, Municipal Corporations of Delhi, NDMC and the Delhi Cantonment Board were also present during the meeting. The preparedness of various agencies to prevent and control Chikungunya was reviewed. In view of the rising number in Chikungunya and Dengue cases in the NCR Delhi, Secretary (HFW) urged the Municipal Bodies and Delhi Government officials to be alert over next two months and to gear up activities and measures to be taken for awareness generation, prevention and control of Chikungunya so as to effectively address the situation, and not allow it to escalate. As directed by the Union Health Minister, Shri Mishra asked the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) of the Health Ministry, Delhi Government and the Municipal Corporations to coordinate their IEC activities towards this end.
The Health Secretary was informed that the recent upsurge in the Chikungunya cases in Delhi is attributable to non immune population, as number of cases of Chikungunya was comparatively less in the previous years. Abundance of vector mosquito, construction activities, water storage practice, increased mobility of population and human behavior have also added to its’ transmission. Due to short incubation period in mosquitoes as compared to Dengue, outbreak of Chikungunya is known to occur. Further, Chikungunya has been observed to follow a secular and cyclic trend. The Health Secretary was informed that to monitor the situation in Delhi, a Control Room has been established in the Ministry. It was apprised that in 2016, Government of India has taken 17 reviews (including 3 Video Conference with States), 11 Advisories were also issued to all States. Government of India has requested to all States/UTs to declare Dengue as notifiable disease for improving reporting and for taking preventive measures in the affected areas.
Under the guidance and direction of the Union Health Minister, Government of India has initiated several awareness programmes through print and electronic media and issue advertisements for controlling these diseases. Besides, for sensitization of the masses on the subject, the National Dengue Day was celebrated on 16th May, 2016 and month of July was observed as Anti Dengue Month (ADM) in the entire country. Mobile App “India Fight Dengue” was also launched by Hon’ble Minister for Health & Family Welfare. The Health Secretary directed the officials for strengthening Vector control and Surveillance, South Delhi Municipal Corporation to collect and compile the report and share with NVBDCP, Modality of treatment of Chikungunya also to be included in the IEC campaign emphasizing domiciliary care to sensitize the community and Principal Secretary (Health), Govt. of Delhi will be the nodal person for monitoring and overall coordination of implementation of the programme for prevention and control of Dengue and Chikungunya in Delhi. The officials from Delhi Government mentioned that special awareness programmes are being held in the schools, such as rallies, etc., to educate the children on Dengue. It was suggested that activities such as these could be replicated all over to create widespread awareness.