Ludhiana, August 4, 2023: MP (Rajya Sabha) Sanjeev Arora is always keen to take up issues related to common people in Rajya Sabha. In this series, he has now taken up the matter of dengue menace in the ongoing session of Rajya Sabha.

Arora asked the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prof SP Singh Baghel about the details of steps the government is taking to avoid diseases soon after monsoon, such as dengue which cause a lot of morbidity, hospitalization and mortality.

This information has been made available by Arora in a statement today.

In reply to Arora’s questions, the Minister has stated that environmental factors responsible for dengue transmission are rainfall, humidity and temperature. The transmission of dengue is round the year in many states. However, cases increase during monsoon and continue till the post monsoon season due to abundance of vector breeding sites. Hence, the Government of India initiates the preventive activities from the beginning of the year.

The Minister further stated in his reply that Government of India (GoI) has taken the initiatives for prevention and control of Dengue in the country during the year 2023. The measures included technical guidelines for prevention and control, integrated vector management, case management and effective community participation have been disseminated to the states for implementation.

The measures also included the situation and preparedness of states have been reviewed at the highest level for timely action and technical guidance. Advisories have been issued to sensitize the States for preparedness to deal with any future outbreak. Trainings have been imparted to doctors on clinical management and to entomologists on integrated vector management. Free diagnostic facilities through 805 sentinel surveillance hospitals and 17 apex referral laboratories identified across the country for detection of cases in early stage to implement public health measures and to prevent further spread.

The Minister further stated in his reply that National Dengue Day has been observed on 16th May for initiating pre-monsoon activities and anti- dengue month observed in July for community awareness to keep their houses and surroundings mosquito breeding free. Under the National Health Mission, necessary and sufficient budgetary support is provided to States/UTs for dengue control activities i.e., dengue case management, vector control activities (provision of domestic breeding checkers, insecticide, fogging machines etc.), training support, awareness activities, etc.

Meanwhile, Arora advised people to use insect repellent, wear long sleeved shirts, long pants, do not let stagnant water in and around their home/office, avoid mosquitoes inside and outside their home.