Two-day Technical Symposium for Dengue Control Inaugurated by Union Health Secretary

Two-day Technical Symposium for Dengue Control – The Union Health Secretary, Shri Rajesh Bhushan, has inaugurated a two-day technical symposium to develop a strategic framework and roadmap for dengue control in India.

The National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) organized the symposium to bring together identified ministries, states, government institutions, and development partners to develop a strategic framework for dengue control.

The objective of this symposium is to envision a country roadmap with the objective of maximizing efficiency through convergence of efforts across multiple dimensions.

Shri Rajesh Bhushan emphasized the importance of timely detection and reporting of dengue cases for effective management and control during his address. He also suggested incorporating dengue under the MoHFW’s Integrated Health Information Platform. The Union Secretary urged all states to initiate a plan of action by the end of the two-day brainstorming and emphasized inter-sectoral convergence and continuous effort from all stakeholders.

Ms. Roli Singh, AS & MD (NHM), MoHFW informed that integrated vector management is being carried out through various ministries and highlighted the importance of effective community participation and intensive IEC campaigns to spread awareness among people. She also informed that dengue control has been incorporated under corporate social responsibility and that the Government of India has declared 16 May as National Dengue Day and July as anti-dengue month.

Shri Rajiv Manjhi, Joint Secretary, MoHFW stated that since there is no drug or treatment available for dengue, it is important to take precautions and ensure vector control and prevention.

Dr Tran Minh, Group Head (Emergency Health), WHO India highlighted the importance of promoting the four key interventions of integrated vector control, surveillance & response, clinical diagnosis & treatment, and multi-stakeholder initiative for effective control of dengue.

During the two-day symposium, participants from ICMR HQs and its Institutes; Medical Colleges- AIIMS (Delhi, Bhubaneshwar, Jodhpur); Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune; various institutes- NCDC, CHEB, NIHFW; identified States; RoHFWs; WHO HQs, WHO-India, subject experts; CGHS hospitals, and identified Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals in Delhi discussed the strategies for prevention and control of Dengue, intersectoral coordination, and challenges in Dengue control. A future roadmap will be developed involving the subject experts with one-platform approach with robust strategy for Dengue control in India.

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