The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has taken a significant step by designating snakebite cases and related deaths as a notifiable disease. This move aims to enhance monitoring and control of snakebite incidents, paving the way for better public health outcomes.
What Are Notifiable Diseases?
A notifiable disease is one that must, by law, be reported to government authorities. This ensures timely data collection, monitoring, and intervention to manage and contain the disease.
Responsibility: Notifying diseases and implementing related measures fall under the purview of state governments.
Objective: Information collected helps monitor the disease's prevalence and provides an early warning for potential outbreaks.
Examples: Other notifiable diseases in India include AIDS, hepatitis, dengue, and tuberculosis.
Global Reporting: Under the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Health Regulations, nations are required to report specific diseases to WHO to ensure global health security.
Snakebite as a Notifiable Disease
Snakebite cases and fatalities are now officially listed as notifiable diseases in India. This initiative complements the Ministry's broader efforts, including the launch of the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE).
Objectives of NAPSE:
Halve snakebite-related deaths and disabilities by 2030.
Improve healthcare access and response for victims.
Enhance awareness and training among medical personnel and communities.
Significance of Notification:
Improved Surveillance: Better tracking of snakebite cases ensures timely medical intervention.
Enhanced Resource Allocation: Focused efforts to supply antivenom and train healthcare workers.
Public Awareness: Helps communities in high-risk areas understand preventive and first-aid measures.
Challenges and Way Forward
Challenges:
Rural Burden: A majority of snakebite cases occur in rural areas with limited access to healthcare.
Training Gaps: Medical personnel often lack specialized knowledge about managing snakebite cases.
Antivenom Shortage: Availability and distribution of quality antivenom remain concerns.
Way Forward:
Strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure to provide timely treatment.
Conduct widespread awareness campaigns in vulnerable regions.
Increase investment in antivenom production and distribution.
Promote research on more effective treatments and preventive measures.
Practice Question
Consider the following statements about notifiable diseases in India:
The responsibility for notifying and managing notifiable diseases lies exclusively with the Union government.
Snakebite cases and deaths have been recently declared as a notifiable disease by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The WHO’s International Health Regulations mandate all countries to notify diseases like AIDS and hepatitis.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
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