Kerala - Alappuzha   

Work to prevent epidemics begins

Dennis Marcus Mathew

Children to be vaccinated against encephalitis

ALAPPUZHA: Last year's chikungunya outbreak and other mosquito-borne diseases fresh in their minds, health authorities in the district are gearing up for preventive measures. Top on their list is a Japanese encephalitis vaccination programme, which is being taken up here for the first time in the State.

Children aged 1 to 15 will be vaccinated against the disease in schools free of cost during July and August. The Union Government will supply the imported vaccine. PATH, an international non-governmental organisation, will oversee the implementation, District Medical Officer N.N. Murali told The Hindu .

"There are around 10 lakh children in that age group in the district, and we hope to cover at least 80 per cent of them in two weeks. While all students in schools will be covered, those who are not in schools will be identified and taken to the vaccination centres located in schools," Dr. Murali said.

Training programme

With this vaccination new to the State, PATH scientists will provide training to the district medical authorities and help them prepare for the programme. A scientist will conduct training classes for doctors, supervisory officers and other staff here on Friday.

Alappuzha, which had reported Japanese encephalitis in previous years, is the only district in the State selected for the programme.

Action plans are being chalked out against outbreak of chikungunya, dengue, malaria and a host of other vector-borne diseases. Setting up of health and sanitation committees, utilising a Rs. 1-crore grant from the National Rural Health Mission, is progressing in 1,112 wards of the district, Dr. Murali said. Information and education campaigns are also under way.

Rapid response teams have been strengthened, with a nodal officer appointed to each of them.

Fogging and anti-larval operations are on at Kadakarapally in Cherthala taluk, where death toll from chikungunya crossed 100. Similar measures are on in other parts of the district.

The district has been divided into three zones, with an entomologist in charge of each. Cherthala and Kuttanad, where most of these diseases had been reported, constitute zone 1, Ambalapuzha and Karthikapally zone 2, and Mavelikara and Chengannur zone 3.

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