Process & Strategies

Capacity Building

  • Training need assessment during the low transmission period i.e. in the month of December by the Districts
  • Review and updating of already developed modules
  • Training of Master Trainers at Provincial level during the month of December
  • Training of the newly engaged staff  in January/ February at District level
  • Refresher training of the already trained  staff in January/ February  
  • Monitoring of the training to ensure the quality
  • Training by DEAG on Clinical Case Management to government and private doctors  

Health Education and Social Mobilization

  • DGHS Office (EP&C & CDC wing) is responsible for mass media campaign in conformity with the awareness needs or peak seasons.
  • The awareness messages to be designed based on seasonal requirements.
  • Health Department / EDOH to provide standardized health education messages to all allied departments and institutions
  • District Government is responsible for awareness activities through local communication channels like cable networks, seminars, walks, display of banners, door to door campaign through volunteers, mobilization sessions for religious leaders, school teachers, community health sessions, mobilization of NGOs. Patronage of the awareness activities be secured from community notables including Political leaders, celebrities etc.
  • Dengue days appropriately spaced to be observed.

Behavior Change Communication

  • The Directorate General Health Services Punjab to issue advisories and guidelines for prevention and control of vector borne diseases during inter-epidemic period, before floods/rainy season and during transmission season of vector borne diseases, particularly the dengue.
  • Health education shall be conducted through different channels of personal communication, group educational activities and mass media. For personal communication and group educational activities, districts shall prepare a plan for every endemic area by involving Women groups, local Welfare Associations, school teachers, informal community leaders and health workers/informal service providers.
  • In every town/city, the elected representatives, other local influencers shall be holding advocacy meetings in their respective constituencies for participation of the people for mass clean-up campaigns, source reduction and environmental sanitation.

Anti Dengue Activities (June-July)

The months of June and July shall also be observed as cleanliness months in all Cities / towns, following activities should be undertaken:

  • Messages from Chief Minister and Governor
  • One day of July may be observed as cleanliness day by all institutions both in public private sector. Wide publicity of such campaigns should be disseminated through local newspapers, radio and cable TV on each day
  • Local government shall ensure checking of all overhead tanks, underground cisterns, e t c, to ensure that lids in the water containers are tightly closed and there are no holes for the entry of the mosquitoes
  • Besides routine checking of breeding of mosquitoes, a random check of all water containers/potential breeding places shall be conducted to assess the impact of cleanliness day in the 2nd week of July
  • All identified construction sites in cities and towns shall be identified by the local bodies and regular checkup for mosquitoes shall be organized. The contractors and owners of the building shall be motivated to maintain cleanliness at the sites of construction and ensuring mosquito free premises
  • Different Welfare Associations and NGOs shall be encouraged to organize week long cleanliness campaigns in respect of their premises and ensure that all coolers and water storage tanks are free of mosquito breeding. They shall organize house to house check of mosquitoes breeding in co-ordination with the functionaries of district government
  • Discarded tires are potential source of Aedes mosquito breeding. The local bodies shall identify such places or repair shops and educate the owners for proper storage of all such tires
  • Schools/colleges/university campuses shall organize cleanliness drive by involving school children/students. The volunteers should be involved in organizing cleanliness drive in every school and college premises
  • All the perennial water bodies: (large water tanks) in towns should be identified and mapped for seeding with larvivorous fish. Functionaries of the Fisheries department at block level shall maintain hatcheries for supply of larvivorous fish to owners
  • Print and electronic media shall be informed on day to day activities for control of Dengue

Inter-sectorial collaboration

The prevention and control of vectors and vector borne diseases require close collaboration and partnership between the health and non-health sectors (i.e. Government, Private, NGOs, etc.). Guidelines/SoPs for Dengue Prevention & Control shall be developed and disseminated to line departments. Coordination committees at provincial and district level to be established to harmonies coordinated efforts.

Line departments requested to develop and implement non-mosquito genic strategies for the maintenance of safe and clean environment.

Operational Research

Chief Minister’s Research & Development Cell, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Institute of Public Health are conducting operational research to assess the different dynamics of virus and vector and proposing appropriate control strategies.

Legislative support

It is necessary to have legislation which ensures prevention of mosquito genic conditions. Dengue Act was approved by the Provincial Assembly and is being implemented. Dengue and other epidemic causing diseases have been made notifyable diseases.
 
Legislation has been done by different departments to cover all aspects of environmental sanitation in order to effectively contribute to the prevention of all vector-borne diseases. These laws and byelaws are to be enacted and implemented for regulating storage/utilization of water by communities, various agencies and avoidance of mosquitogenic conditions at construction sites, factories.

  • Model civic byelaws
    Under this act fine/punishment is imparted, if breeding is detected. These measures are being strictly enforced by city governments.
  • Building Construction Regulation Act
    Building byelaws are to be made for appropriate overhead / underground tanks, mosquito proof buildings, designs of sunshades, porticos, etc for not allowing stagnation of water vis-à-vis breeding of mosquitoes.
  • Environmental Health Act (HIA)
    Suitable byelaws to be made for the proper disposal/storage of junk, discarded tins, old tires and other debris, which can withhold rain water.
  • Health Impact Assessments
    Appropriate legislation to be formulated for mandatory HIA prior to any development projects/major constructions.