Amid Dengu rises, JP Nadda orders for special wards,  central helpline

In view of the onset of monsoon and the rise in dengue cases, union health minister JP Nadda on Wednesday directed officials to primarily focus on high burden states and regions where outbreaks are frequently reported and urged them to work with those states to bring tangible results on dengue prevention. He also directed officials to create a 24/7 central helpline number for dengue prevention, awareness, and treatment protocol. States have been also advised to operationalise similar Helpline numbers for prevention.

The minister has directed AIIMS and all central Govt hospitals to have dedicated dengue wards fully equipped with trained manpower, drugs and other logistics. The hospitals have also been instructed to create a referral system to optimally utilize their clinical facilities. 

In a high-level meeting held on Wednesday to review the dengue situation across the country and preparedness of the public health system for prevention, Mr Nadda directed the officials to gear up and strengthen prevention, containment and management measures against dengue. He also stressed on inter-ministerial convergence meetings involving the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Education Ministry and Municipal Corporations and local self govt. for sensitization of the public for dengue prevention and control.

Highlighting the importance of communication and awareness enhancement activities, the 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 IEC campaign for awareness through TV, radio, social media etc., platforms will be taken up across the country.