Haryana Health Department Achievements

Chandigarh: Structured planning, timely intervention, and in-depth research has borne results for the Haryana Health Department as it has managed to decrease the incidence of malaria (a vector-borne disease) by 93 percent in one year along with no case of Chikungunya and Japanese Encephalitis reported in the last two years.

While sharing the details of the successful vector-borne program, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Mr. Rajeev Arora said that the Department has focused on prevention and control of Vector Borne Diseases like malaria, dengue along with COVID-19 containment activities. "There has been a huge decline in malaria incidence and till October 15, 2020, a total of 104 malaria cases have been reported as compared to 1,441 cases reported during the corresponding period of last year, showing about 3 percent decrease in the incidence," he shared.

Divulging details of the status of vector-borne diseases in districts he said that six districts – Ambala, Fatehabad, Jind, Kaithal, Mahendragarh, and Panchkula – have reported zero indigenous malaria cases while five districts – Bhiwani, Hisar, Panipat, Sonipat, and Yamunanagar - have reported only one indigenous case.

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Elaborating on the arrangements made, Director Health Services (VBD) Dr. Usha Gupta informed that special attention is being given to district Nuh, being high malaria endemic. "Since 2015, about 60 to 70 percent of malaria cases were reported from Nuh (Mewat). Malaria surveillance was strengthened in District Nuh by the regular appointment of MPHW (M)" she specified. She also emphasized that during the year 2019, Malaria Mukt Mewat (MMM) Campaign was launched by Health Minister, Mr. Anil Vij on September 4, 2019. "Mass screening for malaria diagnosis was carried out in 4 high-risk PHCs viz. Ujina, Sudaka, Nuh, and Bai. Each and every person living in these high-risk areas were screened and the person found malaria positive was given Radical Treatment. The outcome of this activity is visible during the current year," she said.

Sharing information on the Dengue situation across the state, Additional Chief Secretary Health, Mr. Rajeev Arora said that the dengue situation is also well under control. He added that till October 15, 2020, a total of 238 dengue cases have been reported as compared to 262 dengue cases reported during the corresponding period of last year. With an aim to prevent mortality due to Dengue, a new initiative i.e. the provision of free Single Donor Platelets (SDP) has been made for dengue patients admitted in Government Hospitals as some dengue patients with severe thrombocytopenia requires SDP for immediate recovery, he said.

Another achievement of the Department is that Haryana is the first state to start a Free Single Donor Platelets (SDP) facility for dengue patients in the northern region. Elaborating on it further he said that at present, SDP Facility (Platelets Apheresis Machine) is available in District Gurugram, Panchkula, Karnal, Rohtak, and Sonipat. He further added that the dengue test is being done free of cost in government laboratories and a total of 27 SSHs (Dengue Testing Labs) are presently functional in the state, at least one in each District.

Additional Chief Secretary also appealed to the general public to take up household-level activities to prevent mosquito breeding such as:

• Every Sunday should be observed as Drying Day i.e. emptying of water containers and check other probable mosquito breeding sites inside the house like a cooler, overhead tanks, drum, discarded utensils, cups, bottles, tyres, flowerpots, fridge tray etc.
• Wear full sleeve clothes
• Sleep under Bed Nets
• Use mosquito repellents

He further said that Disease incidence is monitored on a daily basis and a vigil has been kept on the trend of all Vector-Borne Diseases.

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