NCVBDC trains medical officers on vector-borne disease management

DIMAPUR — The National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC), Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Kohima, organised a three-day training programme for medical officers on the clinical management of vector-borne diseases.

The training took place from March 21 to 23 at the DHFW conference hall in Kohima, according to a press release.

At the inaugural, Dr. E Motsuthung Patton, Mission Director of the National Health Mission (NHM), delivered the keynote address, emphasising to medical officers the issues and experiences related to the high surge of dengue cases reported in 2023.

He urged them to be more vigilant in the coming year and to be proactive and prepared to curb the spread of the disease. Additionally, he stressed the importance of upholding sincerity in their work at their respective posting places.

Dr. Tinurenla Anichari, Deputy Director of NCVBDC, elucidated the roles and responsibilities of medical officers. She advised participants to refer all suspected malaria cases to the laboratory for blood smear collection and examination before initiating treatment.

She stressed the importance of ensuring that all confirmed malaria-positive cases receive treatment in accordance with the National Drug Policy within 24 hours of reporting. Furthermore, she underscored the need to maintain adequate stocks of antimalarials at PHCs/CHCs and peripheral healthcare facilities.

Imsubenla, State Consultant for Public Health and Training, provided an overview of the Nagaland NCVBDC programme, which encompasses six vector-borne diseases. However, she noted that four diseases, namely malaria, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and chikungunya, are prevalent within the state.

According to her, previously, malaria was endemic in all districts, but since 2018, endemicity has been reduced. Over the past seven years, no cases of malaria-related deaths have been reported. Japanese encephalitis cases have been reported from Dimapur, Wokha, Mokokchung, Mon, and Peren districts. Additionally, dengue cases have been endemic across all districts.

Dr. Akuo Sorhie, Director (Health), discussed the importance of early diagnosis and complete treatment, including screening all fever cases for malaria at the OPDs to avoid missing any asymptomatic malaria cases. He advocated for the timely submission of monthly reports, medical officers supervising ANMs and CHOs, and screening all fever cases at OPDs for MP tests.

He stated that if informal training on reporting and recording, performing RDT and blood smears is required, peripheral medical officers should coordinate with DPO-CD1, district consultants, and MTS (malaria technical supervisor), as well as in all microscopic health units, to perform blood slides, as it is considered the gold standard for testing.

Dr. R. Chubala Aier, Additional Director, mentioned the importance of using LLINs (long-lasting insecticidal nets) and informed that sentinel sites have been established in the state to test for dengue, namely Dimapur Sentinel Site Hospital, Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima (NHAK), and Tuensang BSL-II Lab.

She stated that the only way to confirm Japanese encephalitis is to use the ELISA test, which is available at Dimapur District Hospital, and that medical officers must ensure that all microscopic health units send monthly slides for cross-checking, both negative and positive.

She emphasised the importance of intensive monitoring and surveillance of migrant workers, construction sites, and international cross-border areas to avoid missing any malaria-asymptomatic cases and that the state is in the category I malaria elimination phase.

Kikohul, Assistant Director of UVBDS, presented on integrated vector management in the context of Nagaland. The presentation covered source reduction, fogging, and the display of live specimens of larvivorous fish and larvae of Culex mosquitoes.

The release mentioned that a functional hatchery is situated at UVBDS Dimapur, under the Dimapur Chief Medical Officer’s office, where larvivorous fish are distributed free of charge.