Emergency Dengue Response Saptari

NFYN in partnership with JISP has  distributed 500 pcs of dengue rapid kits and conducted a orientation on “Capacity Enhancement Orientation Program on Dengue Widespread Prevention Measures to Community Health Workers.” targeting the venue of  conference hall  hall of Saptakoshi Municipality and conference hall of ward no. 09, Saptakoshi Municipality. The distribution program was conducted on 4 September, 2023 and orientation program was conducted on 5 September.  The training was accomplished with the following objective:

• Strengthen the capacity of the municipality to response the dengue outbreak

The 500 pcs of the kits have been distributed to the municipality by handing it over in the presence of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Public health coordinator. Whereas the schedule training has targeted the public health professional; Health Workers, FCHVs and field health staffs. The training was facilitated by Medical Officer, Dr. Shyam Sundar Mandal and Public Health Officer, Mr. Mahesh Chaidhari 

#1: Dengue Repid Test kit distrubation 

Dengue infections had been steadily increasing in the saptakoshi municipality. A needs analysis revealed that health post of municipality is seeing around 15-20 patients with high fever and dengue symptoms every day. However, lab of the health post had limitations in conducting dengue tests. Recognizing this issue, it was identified the urgent requirement for dengue test kits that could help diagnose infected individuals and guide them towards appropriate treatment, especially in severe cases.

This needs-based analysis was carried out in close collaboration with the municipality's public health officer and the Fattepur Health Post. It became evident that the municipality needed dengue rapid test kits. In response, NFYN, with the support of JISP, decided to distribute 500 dengue rapid test kits to the municipality. With these kits in place, the health post would gain the capability to test for dengue infections and make informed recommendations for further treatment or home care. In typical cases, healthcare professionals often suggest general medication and safety precautions that individuals can follow at home.

The rapid test kits were officially handed over to the municipality in a ceremony attended by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Public Health Coordinator, and Municipal staff. Upon receiving the kits, Mayor Mr. Krishna Parasd Dhakal expressed his gratitude to NFYN and JISP for their invaluable support during this critical period when the municipality urgently needed these kits. Furthermore, he acknowledged that the kits provided by NFYN and JISP would enable the municipality to accurately diagnose dengue infections and recommend the appropriate treatment to combat outbreaks in community.

#2 Capacity Building Orientation Program on Dengue Wide Spread Prevention Measures to Community Health Workers  

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dengue is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus, primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Dengue is most commonly found in sub-tropical climatic regions. WHO recommends preventing and controlling dengue outbreaks by protecting oneself from mosquito bites and disrupting the reproductive cycle of mosquitoes. Therefore, to prevent the spread of dengue in the municipality, it is crucial to raise awareness among the community about avoiding mosquito bites.

To address this need, NFYN, with the support of JISP, decided to enhance the capabilities of the community health workers/ professionals through the orientation program. These capitated individuals would then conduct door-to-door community awareness programs, effectively contributing to the control of dengue outbreaks within the community. Inorder to conduct the orientation program, collaboration with the municipality's public health officer was done where we identified a group of 30 Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), 8 field health staff members, and 8 health workers from wards 1-11. It came to our attention that these grassroots health professionals had not received prior orientation on dengue prevention and control. Therefore, we recognized the potential for them to be more effective in their roles with proper orientation.

In response, NFYN, supported by JISP, decided to provide orientation to all 46 public health professionals in the municipality, thereby building their capacity to educate the community about dengue prevention and control.