Imkong Walling
The annual southwest monsoon is on in the northeast. It implies water for agriculture and respite from the summer heat.
But the monsoon rains also bring with it the seasonal dengue, the impact of which was felt by Nagaland like never before, last year, in 2023.The state Health & Family Welfare Department tipped the figure for 2023 at over 4300 cases, which were 28 times the 154 cases reported in 2022. Before this, 369 cases was the all-time high, reported in 2018.
The outbreak reached places, where dengue was rarely reported. From 1 case in 2022, Mon district reported over 1800 cases and atleast 2 deaths, while districts like Wokha and Mokokchung almost reached the 300 mark. Traditionally, the plains of Dimapur, including Chümoukedima and Niuland, have been the most affected and it was no different in 2023 with the three districts accounting for 2034 cases.
The jolt from the unprecedented outbreak, with a 40 percent positivity rate, was obvious to all. Medical centres ran out of beds, many victims having to be treated on the corridors and waiting lounges. A large but unspecified number of patients required blood component (platelets) transfusion, further putting unparalleled strain on the only government-run Blood Bank in Dimapur and a newly opened one at the CIHSR.
From handling a steady stream of 20-30 units a day, requisitions for platelets at the District Hospital Blood Bank consistently averaged well over a 100 units a day, going as high as 150-160 units on days, during the peak of the outbreak.
It translated into the blood component separator equipments working overtime and the accompanying fear of the machines breaking down. The apprehension was not uncalled for, in a place where the government bureaucracy moves at a snail’s pace, ensuring replacements take weeks, months and even extending into years.
In December, when the wave subsided, there was an ‘Intersectoral’ conclave on dengue and other vector borne diseases in Dimapur under the aegis of the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC). Mitigating future outbreaks was the central feature of the meeting.
Officials from various government departments attended the conclave, which was moderated by the state Commissioner & Secretary, Health Department. A senior consultant of the NCVBDC, Dr Kalpana Baruah joined in via video conferencing, from Delhi.
Conducting a thorough analysis of the 2023 outbreak to identify its causes and the need for preventive activities to begin well ahead of the next anticipated outbreak, was what Dr Baruah stressed on. Coordination and partnership (between departments), community awareness, risk communication and training were the featured terms.
The Commissioner & Secretary called for developing a ‘tiered preparedness and response system’ with the Health Department integrating ‘intersectoral’ ideas for effectively handling future outbreaks. The emphasis on preventive activities well ahead seemed to have worked with fogging activities by the state branch of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme started already, this year.
What the conclave failed to consider, however, was the role played by private medical centers, which bore the brunt of the patient load. As opposed to the theme of sharing ‘intersectoral’ ideas, it highlighted a perceived disconnect between the Health Department and private health establishments and the need for better collaboration and communication between the two for the sake of public health.
Last year, the first batch of cases was reported in June. It is June already.
The writer is a Principal Correspondent at The Morung Express. Comments can be sent to imkongwalls@gmail.com
