Haryana govt to organise seminars on malaria prevention

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today directed the state Health Department to organise seminars for representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) to create awareness regarding prevention of malaria and dengue.
Presiding over a meeting on taking effective measures for prevention and control of Vector Borne Diseases (VBD) here, Hooda said participation of PRIs is important in achieving health targets.
Health Department should launch various campaigns in villages and urban areas for prevention and control of VBDs like malaria and dengue and participation of PRIs should be ensured, he said.
He directed the health department to gear up with effective measures in dealing with such VBDs and said, a comprehensive district-level action plan should be prepared on how the department can facilitate PRIs for the purpose.

Hooda said, if required, the Health Department should also start a helpline for common programmes.
Meanwhile, Principal Secretary (Health) Navraj Sandhu said malaria cases in Haryana has significantly declined between 2011 and 2013 and the number of malaria cases in the state in 2011 was 19,520, whereas it reduced to 16,231 in 2012 and so far it was 8,608 in 2013.
She said that there was a possibility of increase in dengue cases this year and so far 65 cases have been reported including 55 cases which have been reported from Gurgaon only.
No case of Japanese Encephalitis and Chikungunya had been detected in the state, she added.