Health forums conduct seminar about dengue, vector borne diseases

Dimapur, July 23 (EMN): To commemorate the anti-Dengue month in Dimapur district, the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) has been conducting several publicity programmes in the commercial district of Nagaland.

Updates about the programme were received here on Tuesday.

Dr. Imtiwabong, district vector borne officer for Dimapur, was stated to have said that the only way to controlling the dengue fever in Dimapur district was through ‘source reduction.’

‘This source reduction can be achieved by keeping our surroundings clean, removing objects that can collect stagnant water around our homes and using mosquito repellents during the day and sleeping under LLIN bed nets at night,’ he said.

Imtiwabong emphasised on community participation and cooperation as being vital factors in source reduction, the updates stated. He stated that unless the community extends its support, the Health department alone cannot control dengue or any other vector-borne diseases in the district.

In collaboration with administration, village councils and communities, seminars to publicise dengue have been conducted at Medziphema and Chumukedima too to educate the public. The programmes have publicised dengue, malaria, Japanese encephalitis and other vector borne diseases, the updates stated.

Further, Imtiwabong reminded the gathering to take preventive measures. He talked to them about the diagnostics and treatment measures to tackle vector borne diseases, the updates stated.

Besides conducting seminars, the NVBDCP of Dimapur has been coordinating with the Urban Malaria scheme to conduct fogging activities in high risk areas, distributing larvicidal fish and conducting entomological survey to curb dengue and other vector borne diseases in the district, the updates stated.

The Health department has requested various religious organisations in Dimapur district to publicise vector borne diseases during their services to ensure that the messages of health are disseminated to the grass-root level, the updates stated.