Bhubaneswar: Diarrhoeal situation in the State has been reined by concerted efforts of field level teams of the departments of health and family welfare, panchyati raj and drinking water, housing and urban development, women and child development, Mission Shakti etc. This was known from a review taken by Secretary Health and Family Welfare Aswathy S. today wherein Director Public health Services Dr Nilakantha Mishra presented the updates and outlined the issues for discussion.
Available data showed, Jajpur district where the outbreak made its first appearance on 10 June started showing decline trend over last seven days. The first reporting of the outbreak on 10 June recorded 126 cases. It reached its peak on 11 June with 150 new cases. The number of cases in the areas like Danagadi, Korei, Dharmashala, and Vyasanagar ULB showed a decline trend from 12 June onwards. On that day, total new cases admitted in the hospitals were 135, which came down to 121 on 15 June, and further to 91 on 18 June. As of last evening, 71 new cases were admitted in different hospitals of the district. Though new sporadic cases were reported from Badachana and Sukinda areas, those were quickly attended to by the rapid response teams, and were managed in the local hospitals. Till last night, cumulative total number of 1127 persons were admitted in different hospitals of the district out of which 1045 were discharged after being cured; and 82 patients were under treatment.
Keonjhar district also showed a similar decline trend. On 10 June, 79 people from different areas of the district were admitted in the hospitals which came down to 44 on 12 June, and further down to 38 on 18 June. Till last night, total new cases in the district was confined to 17 only. As of last night, a cumulative total of 497 people were admitted in different hospitals out of whom 454 were sent home after being cured; and 34 patients were under treatment in different hospitals of the district.
At present, anti-diarrhoeal operation is being carried on in the entire State with special focus on the districts like Jajpur, Keonjhar, Bhadrakh, Cuttack, and Dhenkanal. Additional doctor and manpower have been deputed to these districts. Sufficient medicines, fluids and injections etc have been positioned at different levels like hospitals, health sub-centres, Asha Karmies and AWCs. The expert teams both from Central and State Govt are visiting the affected areas for monitoring and guiding the field level operation. House to house awareness campaign has been intensified in these districts. On 19 June, a total number of 400 diarrhoea patients were admitted in different hospitals of these districts, and 299 were discharged after cure.
Minister Health and Family Welfare Dr Mukesh Mahaling has directed to keep up the campaign till end of the monsoon for checking the possible outbreak of any water borne diseases including diarrhoea. He advised people not to be panic but remain vigilant about following hygienic practices both in personal and community life. Secretary Aswathy S has also advised people to follow hygienic practices, hand washing, and drink boiled water. Water supply agencies have been asked to undertake intensive disinfection of water sources in regular intervals. Secretary Aswathy added, “people have started coming to hospitals with early stage of infection. This is a good sign”. She asked the field level functionaries of health department to continue house to house screening, early detection and treatment for coming two months.
