Union Health Minister Reviews Preparedness On Dengue

USPA NEWS - The Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Mr. J.P. Nadda chairing the review meeting on Dengue situation in NCR Delhi, at New Delhi on September 14, 2015. The secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Mr. B.P. Sharma and other senior officers of the Health Ministry are also seen.

The Health Ministry decided to ask the Delhi Government to take action against any overcharging by the private hospitals while providing treatment to dengue patients. Delhi Government has also been asked to increase the bed strength and expedite this for dengue patients in the state hospitals. The bed strength for dengue patients in the Central Government´s hospitals is also being increased.

The above decisions were taken at a high level meeting on September 14, chaired by Mr. J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare to review the preparedness regarding Dengue situation and the measures taken to address it. Mr. B P Sharma, Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), Mr. K B Agarwal, Additional Secretary, senior officers of the Health Ministry and officials of the National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) were present during the meeting.

The Health Ministry is constantly and closely reviewing and monitoring the situation with the State Government, Municipal Bodies, NDMC, Delhi Cantonment Board, CPWD, MS of Central Government hospitals in Delhi and the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), the nodal agency for prevention and control of dengue.

Adequate stocks of NS1 and IgM testing kits to detect cases of Dengue are available with identified 514 sentinel surveillance hospitals and apex referral labs. The list along with the treatment guidelines is available at the Ministry´s website.

The Ministry has also undertaken intensive targeted multi-media IEC activities to create mass awareness among the communities for prevention and control of Dengue.