Dengue, Its Intersectoral Collborations
DENGUE Dengue, which is an emerging public health problem worldwide, is a vector born disease, causing a severe influenza like illness in humans.
The incidence of the disease is on the rise due to many factors such as climate change, urbanization, and uncontrolled population growth etc. The changing patterns of climate have provided a favorable environment for vectors to feed and breed. Urbanization and uncontrolled population growth in urban and peri–urban areas have also favored the breeding of Aedes aegypti. Rapid population growth affects public services such as providing safe drinking water. Thus, people take up unsafe water storage practices. Also the recent increase in air travel has resulted in rapid dispersal of virus and exchange of different dengue viruses between populations in the world, in particular the tropical countries. Without timely intervention, the health and economic impact of dengue will result in increased morbidity and mortality.
INTERSECTORAL INVOLVEMENT
Since the major determinants of health status lie outside the health care system so efforts to address health issues like dengue we must incorporate sectors whose activities have a bearing (directly and indirectly) on its control and eradication.
S. No. | SECTORS | CONTRIBUTION | 1. | Ministry of Urban Development | Introduction of civic laws by local bodies of cities and towns for proper disposal of junk material; refuge and solid wastes to prevent mosquitogenic conditions; screening of migrant workers. | 2. | Ministry of Irrigation | Seepage control; maintenance of canals and regulatory chambers; flushing drainage; repair of water supply lines to industries and cities. | 3. | Local Government/ corporation/ municipality | Ensuring proper design and construction of drainage system (sealed drains and pit holes); regular clearing of water passage in the drainage system; timely collection and disposal of city waste. | 4. | Ministry of Rural Development and Education |
The incidence of the disease is on the rise due to many factors such as climate change, urbanization, and uncontrolled population growth etc. The changing patterns of climate have provided a favorable environment for vectors to feed and breed. Urbanization and uncontrolled population growth in urban and peri–urban areas have also favored the breeding of Aedes aegypti. Rapid population growth affects public services such as providing safe drinking water. Thus, people take up unsafe water storage practices. Also the recent increase in air travel has resulted in rapid dispersal of virus and exchange of different dengue viruses between populations in the world, in particular the tropical countries. Without timely intervention, the health and economic impact of dengue will result in increased morbidity and mortality.
INTERSECTORAL INVOLVEMENT
Since the major determinants of health status lie outside the health care system so efforts to address health issues like dengue we must incorporate sectors whose activities have a bearing (directly and indirectly) on its control and eradication.
S. No. | SECTORS | CONTRIBUTION | 1. | Ministry of Urban Development | Introduction of civic laws by local bodies of cities and towns for proper disposal of junk material; refuge and solid wastes to prevent mosquitogenic conditions; screening of migrant workers. | 2. | Ministry of Irrigation | Seepage control; maintenance of canals and regulatory chambers; flushing drainage; repair of water supply lines to industries and cities. | 3. | Local Government/ corporation/ municipality | Ensuring proper design and construction of drainage system (sealed drains and pit holes); regular clearing of water passage in the drainage system; timely collection and disposal of city waste. | 4. | Ministry of Rural Development and Education |
References: 1. India environmental management plan for the vector borne disease control project under World Bank – 2007. 2. Long term action plan for prevention and control of Dengue by Government of India. 3. A paper on Dengue: call for urgent interventions for a rapidly expanding emerging disease by WHO (Regional office for the Eastern Mediterranean). 4. A Strategic Report on Best practices on Dengue prevention and control in Americas by Linda S. Lloyd.