Officials of the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare and NVBDCP with Senior Regional Director of Imphal, Dr. L.A. Singh.
Kohima, August 22 (MExN): The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) concluded a two-day state review meeting on Thursday at the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare (DHFW) conference hall.
The meeting, held on August 21-22, focused on the progress and challenges in eliminating vector-borne diseases in Nagaland.
In his opening remarks, Dr. E. Motsuthung Patton, Principal Director of the DHFW, commended the near-elimination of malaria in many districts but cautioned against complacency. He referenced the dengue fever outbreak in Dimapur and Mon last year, urging continued vigilance as the monsoon season approaches. Dr. Patton thanked the NVBDCP staff for their efforts in controlling dengue and emphasized the need for public awareness and source reduction to prevent future outbreaks.
Dr. Patton also highlighted the importance of the review meeting for reflecting on past actions and strategizing for the future. He encouraged NVBDCP staff to maintain their dedication and diligence in achieving malaria elimination.
Dr. Neisakho Kere, Joint Director and State Programme Officer of NVBDCP, presented an overview of the program’s performance. He noted that as of 2023, all districts had an Annual Parasite Incidence (API) of less than 1, a significant achievement. However, he expressed concern over the Annual Blood Examination Rate (ABER), which, despite a slight increase from 9.53% in 2022 to 10.12% in 2023, has since declined. Dr. Kere called for intensified efforts to meet the national target of 10%.
Dr. Kere reported no cases of Kala-azar or Filariasis in Nagaland and raised concerns about potential undetected Chikungunya cases due to limited sample collection. He advised District Vector Borne Officers (DVBOs) to be vigilant and ensure that suspected cases are tested in Kohima and Dimapur.
Significant progress was reported in the reduction of malaria cases, which dropped from 113 in 2018 to just 6 so far in 2024. Dengue cases also saw a sharp decline from 4,943 in 2023 to only 11 this year. For Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, 19 cases were reported in 2023 compared to 8 this year. Dr. Kere recommended improving blood slide collection and monitoring and urged districts to conduct regular Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) and Behavior Change Communication (BCC) activities.
Dr. L.A. Singh, Senior Regional Director of Imphal, discussed the malaria certification documentation process. He explained that the World Health Organization (WHO) grants malaria elimination certification to countries that have reported no indigenous malaria cases for three consecutive years and have effective prevention programs in place. He praised Nagaland for its low malaria cases and urged continued vigilance to maintain these achievements. Dr. Singh stressed the importance of surveillance, particularly among migrant laborers, travelers, and refugees, to prevent the reintroduction of the disease.
The meeting saw presentations from NVBDCP staff across 11 districts, with participation from national consultants of the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC), Government of India, who attended virtually. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Tinurenla Anichari, Deputy Director of NVBDCP, and concluded with a vote of thanks by Imsubenla, Public Health and Training Consultant of NVBDCP.
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