UP campaign against communicable diseases

Uttar Pradesh government will be launching a state-wide campaign against communicable diseases from October 1 which will last for one month.

The encephalitis and vector-borne disease prevention programme will be run by 11 departments, said a government spokesman.

Instructions have been issued to the medical and health department, urban development, panchayati raj and rural development, education, department of medical education, agriculture and irrigation, animal husbandry, empowerment of persons with disabilities department, horticulture and information department to prepare an action plan.

Additionally, the Dastak campaign will be run between October 7 and October 21.

Under the campaign, workers including ASHA and Anganwadi workers will go door to door to identify those suffering with TB, flu, fever, malnourishment, and other influenza like illnesses.

At the state level, nodal officers will be chosen from each department.

A major focus of the programme is raising awareness about vector control, hygiene, garbage disposal, preventing water-logging, and the availability of clear drinking water, the press statement read.

As part of the campaign, door-to-door distribution of zinc tablets, ORS packets, and chlorine tablets to purify water will be held keeping in view the acute diarrhoea cases.

To raise awareness about vector-borne diseases, the education department will host poster, discussion and quiz contests while the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities will conduct a survey.

An Ayushman fortnight will be observed from September 15 to mark four years of the scheme on September 23.

The fortnight-long campaign aims to ensure all eligible get their Ayushman cards.

State Chief Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra said that camps will be conducted in villages and information about camps will be shared by ASHA and Anganwadi workers with eligible families.