Dehradun: The Department of Medical, Health and Medical Education is fully active regarding the prevention of dengue in the state. In line with the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, Secretary Medical Health and Medical Education Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar has issued an advisory to all the concerned departments for prevention of dengue. The Health Secretary has clarified that the dengue mosquito breeds in clean stagnant water. If such places are identified in time where water can collect and removed, then dengue can be prevented from spreading.
With this view, he has sent an advisory to all the concerned departments, in which it has been said that the role of all departments is very important in dengue control. The advisory emphasizes on making coordinated efforts with inter-departmental coordination. The departments that received the advisory mainly include Urban Development, Municipal Corporations/Municipalities, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Education, Information, Disaster Management, Irrigation, Agriculture, Women and Child Development, Transport, Meteorological Department, Tourism, Forest and Water Supply Department.
Health Secretary held a meeting, issued guidelines
Uttarakhand Health Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar said in an important meeting in this regard, “Our priority is to reduce dengue cases and ensure health safety of citizens. Dengue mosquitoes, especially Aedes aegypti, breed in places where water accumulates around homes, so cleaning and monitoring these places is extremely important.” Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar said that this is the time to take collective responsibility so that the state can be made dengue free. All departments have been expected to spread vigilance and awareness at their own level and regularly monitor potential mosquito breeding sites. The Health Secretary has directed various departments to make joint efforts to prevent dengue. He urged the Municipal Corporation, Rural Development Department, Education Department, Jal Nigam, and other departments to ensure cleaning of mosquito breeding places in their respective areas and make citizens aware about this.
Cluster based cleanliness campaign and monitoring
Coordinated efforts of various departments are underway to prevent the spread of dengue in Uttarakhand. Health department officials are identifying and destroying mosquito breeding places in every district. Apart from this, construction sites, old tyres, empty plots and places where water accumulates are being cleaned by the Urban Development Department. A cleanliness campaign is being run in collaboration with the Municipal Corporation and Rural Development Department, in which emphasis is being laid on preventing any kind of accumulation of water from homes and public places. It is being advised to clean water tanks, coolers and utensils etc. at least once a week.
Contribution of Education Department: Awareness through students
The Education Department has started a campaign to make students aware about dengue through schools. The students will go home and inform their families about the measures to prevent dengue. Special courses on health and hygiene are being organised in schools so that widespread awareness can be spread in villages and cities through children.
Drainage and Waste Management
The Irrigation and Water Corporation Department is improving the drainage process so that the accumulation of rainwater does not become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Waste management is also being improved so that mosquito-borne diseases can be dealt with. Under this, special attention is being paid to proper disposal of waste and prevention of waterlogging in open spaces.
Public Participation and Media Support
Under the public awareness campaign, the Department of Information and Public Relations is providing information about measures to prevent dengue through television, radio and social media platforms. Citizens are being made aware and their active cooperation is being obtained to destroy the breeding places of mosquitoes. Also, public representatives and panchayats have also been appealed to identify the breeding places of mosquitoes at the local level and clean them and make citizens aware about dengue.
Special health campaign by Health Department
The Health Department is organizing special camps in hospitals and clinics to identify and treat dengue cases. Patients are being informed about the symptoms and preventive measures of dengue along with treatment. Teams of health workers are going door-to-door to identify mosquito breeding sites and destroy them.
