Dimapur, July 27 (EMN): In its attempt to achieve a ‘dengue free Dimapur,’ an awareness programme was organised by the National Borne Vector Disease Control Programme in collaboration with the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) and Chief Medical Officer at Town Hall in Dimapur on July 27.
The adminitrator of DMC, Moa Sangtam urged for public participation to control dengue. The administrator has proposed for a mass social work in colonies under Dimapur municipality area. However, Sangtam said, unlike the usual sanitation drives on the roadsides, this social work will concern inside one’s kitchen and compound.
Starting from next Saturday, Aug. 4, every household in Dimapur will begin with the ‘home social work’ from 7 am to 8 am, he added.
A consultant at Christian Institute of Health and Scientific Research, Dr. Rohan, spoke about dengue, its causes, signs and symptoms. He said, it is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of aedes mosquito, also known as tiger mosquito. A person bitten by aedes mosquito will develop the disease only after four to ten days, he informed.
It was also informed that the confirmatory test of dengue is available only at the Dimapur district hospital. Therefore, it was advised that a doctor be consulted immediately if any cases should arise. However, one must avoid getting injection or any kinds of medicine prescription at pharmacies or at private hospitals, as these institutions cannot give concrete result, which in turn may lead to complications, Rohan said.
But for emergency cases, one may take paracetamol tablets, he advised.
According to him, Dimapur district registered a total of 357 dengue cases, with highest enrolment of 181 in the month of November, both in 2017. Further, he said dengue breeds in hot climatic areas and post-monsoon.
‘Everybody is at risk of getting bitten by the mosquito,’ Rohan asserted. However, there are some group of people who are more vulnerable, such as; pregnant women, babies, older people, and person with obesity. Therefore, maximum care should be given to these group of people, Rohan informed.
Some of the common signs and symptoms of a person having dengue are: high fever, severe headache, muscles and joint pains, rash, etc. In extreme cases, it will show signs of breathing difficulty, bleeding (nose and mouth), blood in urine, consistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and restlessness. The final complications show signs of shock, seizures, bleeding.
Like that of HIV, there is no cure to dengue, he said. However, one can keep the surroundings clean and free from stagnant water, as this is the only way to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
The assistant director of Urban Vector Borne Diseases Scheme, Kiko Kheiya, spoke about the prevention of dengue. He said the urban local bodies can aid in the dengue prevention process by implementing programmes to manage sewage, drainage, and solid waste.
Referring to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act of 1928 for prevention of breeding during construction of developmental projects, Kheiya said, ‘all developmental projects in urban and semi-urban and peri-urban areas should have clearance on anti-mosquito preventive measures after assessment by the health authorities.’
Further, he suggested that schools and children should be involved in the awareness generation programme. Introduction of course curriculum for primary and secondary level of education should be advocated with the help of department of Education, he added.
