KATHMANDU, AUGUST 7
Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population Dr Roshan Pokharel has said the role of three tiers of government was crucial to control dengue.
At an interaction on 'Dengue outbreak and control' organised by Health Journalist Forum here today, Pokharel stressed the need to launch a 'search and destroy' campaign to control dengue.
As per data, the number of people infected with dengue has reached 7,733 till July 6 this year. Pokharel shared that dengue had spread in 71 districts and seven people had already succumbed to the disease this year. He said people infected with dengue had been receiving treatment free of cost.
Similarly, Director General of Department of Health Services Dr Dipendra Raman Singh laid emphasis on the need to increase health-related literacy in order to control dengue. "It is necessary to strengthen the role of individuals, families and communities by increasing public health awareness from respective places to control the rapid spread of dengue," Singh viewed. On the occasion, Director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division Dr Rudra Marasini presented a working paper on various issues, including situation of dengue in Nepal, national guideline related to prevention, management and control of dengue disease, major achievements made so far, and treatment. "The local levels have more responsibility in 'Dengue Control: Search and Destroy' campaign," he said.
Likewise, infectious disease expert Dr Anup Bastola stressed the need to clean places where mosquitoes live and breed. Forum Chair Saroj Pokharel mentioned that individuals themselves should take initiatives to control dengue. "Dengue was detected for the first time in Nepal in 2006. Ever since, the number of dengue infected people has been increasing gradually every year," he shared.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 8, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
