Latest news with #NationalVector-BorneDiseaseControlProgramme
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Pb to soften dengue bite by 80%
Chandigarh: Punjab's health minister, Dr Balbir Singh, on Saturday unveiled a sweeping action plan to curb dengue fever's cases by 80% this year, combining public awareness drives, tighter enforcement, and enhanced healthcare measures across the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking at a meeting of the state task force on vector-borne diseases at Punjab Bhawan, Dr Balbir Singh said dedicated dengue beds equipped with mosquito nets were laid at govt hospitals, medical colleges, and 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics. Testing and treatment for dengue fever and malaria will remain free at all govt health facilities. The minister announced the return of the CM's 'Har Shukarvar Dengue Te Vaar' campaign, which will kick off on May 1. Highlighting another major move, the minister noted that dengue fever had been declared a notifiable disease across Punjab. The state has capped the cost of relevant tests at private hospitals and laboratories at 600. The minister said last year's campaign had halved dengue fever's cases and cut related deaths by 66%. "No malaria deaths were reported in Punjab in 2024," he said. Expanding preventive efforts to schools, the health minister directed the officers to hold special awareness camps for students and teachers, while eradicating stagnant water on school premises — near toilets, mid-day meal kitchens, and water tanks especially. Addressing another priority, he instructed the water supply and sanitation department to repair malfunctioning reverse osmosis (RO) systems urgently for the provision of clean drinking water. State programme officer Dr Arshdeep Kaur updated the media on efforts under the National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme and outlined plans to intensify future action against those ailments.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Goa on verge of eliminating malaria: No indigenous case since '23
Malaria can become dangerous if not detected early. Most people think that malaria cases jump in the rainy season, but that's not the case, as the disease is quite common during the summer season. On World Malaria Day, let's discuss signs and preventive tips. Panaji: Goa registered 9,822 malaria cases and 21 resultant deaths in 2008, but now the state is in the elimination phase of the disease. The state reported no malaria deaths since 2018 and no malaria cases since 2023 among the indigenous population. The state, however, continues to record imported cases with the influx of migrants, especially from high endemic states. When an imported case is detected, Goa's directorate of health services ensures that the officer in charge of the vector-borne disease control programme in the person's home state is notified. 'This is done so that the area where they migrated from is investigated for any mosquito breeding, the vector is destroyed, and the population is screened,' said deputy director of health services and in charge of the National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme , Dr Kalpana Mahatme. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo She added, 'This also ensures that the next batch migrating from that area does not carry the parasite to Goa.' DOT (directly observed therapy), a Goa initiative, has also helped to stop the transmission and prevent deaths in malaria falciparum cases. It was found that people were not completing their full course of medication. So, health workers in Goa have been following DOT by making sure a patient takes all the tablets in front of them for three days. Falciparum can lead to cerebral malaria and other fatal complications. Goa's annual parasite incidence (API) — the total positive cases per 1,000 persons — has also been on the decline. 'Since 2023, the API for Goa has been nil,' Mahatme said. She said that the state has applied for the elimination of malaria certification in the subnational category for South Goa. 'We submitted all documentation, and an inspection was carried out by officials from the Union health ministry and the World Health Organisation,' she said. 'We are now awaiting the certification.' Malaria cases have always been lower in South Goa compared to North as the former has fewer infrastructure projects and less influx of labour, she said. After achieving subnational malaria elimination status, the state will have to sustain its efforts to ensure that malaria doesn't spread to the indigenous population. It will then apply for the certification of subnational elimination of the disease in North Goa.
