September I Province 3 and Province Gandaki Pradesh
First reported in 2004 from Chitwan district in a foreigner, dengue is now widespread and reported from more than 60 districts in Nepal. In 2019, large number of dengue cases were reported from cities like Dharan, Hetauda, Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan.
Understanding the fact that a multi-sectoral approach is required to fight the virus-infected mosquito which can be active, and breed, in each home or office, WHO Nepal mobilized stakeholders to concentrate various efforts to prevent and control the disease.
Updated national guideline
Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), under Department of Health Services (DoHS), with the technical support from WHO Nepal, revised the national guidelines on dengue prevention, management, and control.
This updated guideline, revised in line with the latest WHO recommendations, is a comprehensive standard to be followed by all health professionals. This will help the country to prevent and properly manage dengue cases in the health centers. In particular, it will guide the health workers in preventing unnecessary deaths through proper triage (deciding the order of treatment in large number of patients) and appropriate management.
“Moreover, anyone can learn more about prevention and control from the simple, accessible document”, states Dr. Lungten Wangchuk, Scientist and Team Lead for Communicable Diseases at WHO Nepal.
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Strengthened capacity
With the support from WHO regional and country office, EDCD also conducted a workshop 70 medical doctors and public health personnel from six provinces on prevention, control, and management. The training of trainers was facilitated by national and international experts. Practical field visits on mosquito vector and breeding habitat was led by Dr. BN Nagpal, Senior Entomologist at WHO South East Asian Region.
Likewise, almost 80 doctors, public health personnel, municipalities representatives from Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur districts were also trained on prevention, management, control, and risk communication strategies.
Multisectoral approach and social mobilization
Due to the complexity of the disease, multisectoral approach and social mobilization is required for effective control of infected mosquitoes and to reduce transmission.
Ministry of Health and Population, with the support from WHO Nepal, organized various sensitization meetings to bring together different sectors such as municipality bodies, army, police, ministries, and other partners, so that the coordinated collaboration can enable Nepal to achieve success in prevention and control.
Youth engagement
WHO Nepal and EDCD also collaborated with local authorities and youth councils organized sensitization workshops to 60-80 youths in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan each, where huge number of dengue cases have been reported in 2019.
Youths can now support municipalities to effectively implement search and destroy the breeding sites of infected mosquitoes; practice proper personal protection measures in their homes and communities; and share correct information.
Media engagement and public advocacy
As effective communication and information plays an important role to raise awareness, EDCD and WHO Nepal jointly engaged more than 35 media houses in Chitwan, and 30 media houses in Pokhara and Kathmandu, and sensitized them on key useful information for public.
Media personnel, now aware with the right information, have shared them to the public, and even corrected false information.
National Health Education Information Communication Centre, EDCD, WHO Nepal, and UNICEF Nepal, have also worked together to develop videos and infographics, in both English and Nepali language, for wider dissemination via social media and television channels.