Senior Regional Director of Imphal, Dr. L.A. Singh with NVBDCP staff inspecting the use of LLINs at Aliba Village.
MOKOKCHUNG, AUGUST 26 (MExN): The National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP) conducted a district monitoring visit in Mokokchung on August 23 and 24.
The monitoring team was led by Dr. L.A. Singh, Senior Regional Director from Imphal, along with Dr. Tinurenla Anichari, Deputy Director of NVBDCP, state consultants, district consultants, Malaria Technical Staff, and Surveillance Workers (SW).
The team visited several healthcare facilities, including Primary Health Centres in Longkhum and Ungma villages, Dr. Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital, Health Sub-Centre in Mokokchung village, the Chief Medical Officer's office in Aliba village, and Lenjem Hospital. Their mission was to assess the implementation of the NVBDCP and the Non-Communicable Disease programme.
During the visit, Dr. Singh highlighted the critical importance of timely malaria detection to prevent outbreaks, emphasizing the role of surveillance. He advised that blood slides should be collected only if results can be provided within 24 hours and recommended using Rapid Diagnostic Tests when trained laboratory technicians are unavailable.
Dr. Singh also stressed that blood samples should be collected only from individuals currently experiencing fever or those who had a fever within the past two weeks. He warned of the risk of indigenous malaria cases if patients do not disclose their travel history, urging the screening of people from outside the state, particularly migrant laborers. He also recommended that Surveillance Workers conduct screenings on a fortnightly basis.
Acknowledging that many patients prefer private hospitals over government facilities, Dr. Singh suggested regular contact with private hospitals on a quarterly basis to stay updated on malaria cases. He also urged staff to encourage the use of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) and to maintain accurate stock records with daily updates on the IHIP portal.
Although dengue cases have been low this year, Dr. Singh cautioned that dengue fever tends to increase after the monsoon season. He called for continued vigilance and dedication from all staff in their efforts to control vector-borne diseases.
