Kathmandu Municipality Deploys 1650 Personnel for Dengue Control

Kathmandu. The Health Department of Kathmandu Metropolitan City is set to deploy 1650 trained personnel to control dengue as the monsoon season begins. A strategy has been prepared to conduct the first phase of the 'search and destroy larvae' program in all wards by the month of Asar, following capacity development programs for health promotion center chiefs and health workers. 

After this capacity development, center in-charges and health workers will provide training to 50 people in each ward. Women health volunteers, local clubs, neighborhood improvement committees, mother groups, and representatives of other organizations are included in the target group for this training. After this training, the trained personnel will be assigned to different areas of the ward to conduct an campaign to search for and destroy dengue-spreading mosquito larvae. 

The national goal is to reduce the dengue infection rate, decrease the mortality rate due to dengue, and prevent and control dengue disease. The strategies include improving the surveillance and monitoring system, vector control, risk communication and community participation, health system preparedness and response, leadership, multisectoral collaboration and program management improvement, research, and innovation programs. During the capacity development program, officials from the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division and the Kathmandu District Health Office provided presentations on the goals and strategies. 

'As the monsoon begins, dengue infections gradually spread from the month of Shrawan and peak infections are seen in Kartik and Mansir. If we can take countermeasures from now, it is possible to reduce the infection rate this year compared to previous years. For this, everyone must make an effort.' said Deepak Kumar KC, Chief of the Health Department, at the training. 'Success in disease control can be achieved through the responsibility of individuals and families.'

'We are trying to spread messages about dengue prevention efforts at the community level, involve them in the program, and take control efforts to every household.' said Rishi Prasad Bhusal, Focal Person for the Epidemic Disease Prevention and Control Program. 'We will make the disease prevention and control programs more effective by utilizing the learnings and experiences from previous years.'

Mosquitoes that spread dengue breed in clean, stagnant water. Therefore, containers that store clean water should not be filled. Places where water accumulates, such as roads, potholes on sidewalks, flower pots in gardens, containers storing water, tires, and water accumulated on balconies and verandas, are breeding grounds for mosquitoes, so water should not be allowed to accumulate in such places. It is currently raining heavily, and mosquito larvae can hatch in the water that accumulates during this period, so it is necessary to take precautions from now on. 

When a person is bitten by an adult mosquito that hatches from the eggs laid by an infected Aedes mosquito, dengue disease is transmitted. Generally, within 4 to 7 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito, symptoms such as high fever, fever lasting up to 7 days, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, nausea, feeling very weak, and loss of appetite may appear. Red rashes may appear on the body 3 to 5 days after the fever starts.