Officials gear up to tackle seasonal diseases

Visakhapatnam: With the onset of monsoon, malaria action plan has been drawn up with focus on intensified surveillance, anti-larval operations, distribution of mosquito nets and early screening of fevers in the district. ASHA workers were provided with medical kits for screening of fevers and bring to the notice of medical officer at the nearest PHCs for further tests and treatment for malaria patients.

The government has declared June as anti-malaria month and is taking up measures to control malaria cases in the district. The district medical and health department already imported 4,48,900 long lasting insecticidal nets (LIN’s) and distributed in villages in as the prevalence of the disease is highest in Visakhapatnam and other north coastal Andhra districts.

Dr Ronanki Ramesh (DMHO) said that even though no deaths have been reported so far and incidence of malaria is on the wane since three years. He further stated that special drives were conducted on weekly markets in the villages.

Two doctors and three staff nurses have been posted at each Primary Health Centre round-the-clock for testing and treatment of fever and antenatal cases.  The anti-dose for such antenatal cases Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) and other diagnostic kits are available in adequate quantity, he added.

In urban areas, no malaria cases have been reported but five dengue cases are being reported daily. The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) medical and health department was conducting a regular check of water stagnation in various areas and households to prevent breeding of dengue mosquitoes.

The district health officials also taken up a survey and passive surveillance in creating awareness regarding personal hygiene and healthier environment with the support of health workers, he added.

He also added that they had completed first round of spraying activity in over 50 per cent villages in rural areas. More than 4,48,900 imported insecticidal long-lasting mosquito nets have been distributed in rural, tribal, wherever required, including in tribal hostels and hospitals.

The district administration was working round-the-clock with the front level workers to eradicate such antennal cases in the district this year . He also urged the public to cooperate with the teams and follow the instructions strictly given by them.