UP Govt to Launch a Statewide Campaign Against Communicable Diseases from Oct 1

Uttar Pradesh government will launch a month-long special campaign against communicable diseases on October 1. Two stages of the Communicable Disease Control Campaign and 'The Dastak Campaign' were carried out in all 75 districts of the state between April and July 2022, according to an official statement.

As many as 11 departments will be in charge of the encephalitis and vector-borne disease prevention programme. During the campaign, ASHA-Anganwadi workers will go door to door to identify those with tuberculosis, the flu, fever, malnourished children, and other illnesses such as ILI (Influenza Like Illness). According to an official statement, the report will be delivered to the health department. The government of Uttar Pradesh has made every effort to address the health issues posed by vector-borne and other seasonal diseases.

The Medical and Health Department, the Department of Urban Development, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, Education, Bal Vikas Sewa Evam Pushtahar, the Department of Medical Education, Agriculture and Irrigation, Animal Husbandry, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, the Department of Horticulture, and the Department of Information have all been directed to develop an action plan in this regard.

UNICEF and the World Health Organization will both be involved in the campaign (WHO). At the state level, nodal officers from each department will be selected to ensure the campaign runs smoothly. Meetings with the nodal officers would be held on a regular basis to track campaign-related activities. Raising awareness about vector control, hygiene, garbage disposal, preventing water logging, and the availability of safe drinking water is a major focus of the programme.

As part of the campaign, zinc tablets, ORS packets, and chlorine tablets to purify water will be distributed door-to-door, keeping in mind the acute diarrhoea cases. Following the campaign's conclusion, the teams will mail the interdepartmental report to the Communicable Disease Unit and the Directorate General of Health Services.

The Education Department will hold posters, discussions, and quiz contests to raise awareness of vector-borne diseases, while the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities will conduct a survey and provide assistive devices to children with disabilities caused by Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome during the campaign. Furthermore, anti-larvae medications and fogging agents will be sprayed in both urban and rural areas, while dirty areas will be identified and a massive cleanliness drive will be launched there.