Parliament Question: Outbreaks of Waterborne and Vector-Borne Diseases

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1089 TO BE ANSWERED ON05.12.2025 OUTBREAKS OFWATERBORNEAND VECTOR-BORNEDISEASES 1089: SHRIAMRINDERSINGHRAJAWARRING:

Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate

(a) whether the Government has assessed the public health risks arising from recent floods,including outbreaks of waterborne and vector-borne diseases in the country and if so, the detailsthereof;

(b) the measures taken to strengthen surveillance, early detection and emergency medical response inflood-affected districts, districts-wise;

(c) whether additional medical teams, mobile health units or stockpiles of essential medicines deployedinsuch districts andif so, the detailsthereof,districts-wise;

(d) the coordination mechanisms established with State Governments for sanitation, drinking water safety andmental healthsupport during rehabilitation;and

(e) whether the Government proposes any long-term guidelines to improve climate-resilient public healthpreparedness in recurringflood zonesinthe countryandif so, the detailsthereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATEIN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIMATI ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a) Ministry of Health & Family Welfare keeps a close watch over public health impact of all disasters including floods. The outbreak prone diseases during floods which are being monitored includes waterborne Diseases like Acute Diarrheal Diseases, Cholera, Dysentery, Leptospirosis, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E and Vector-borne diseases like Dengue, Malaria, Chikungunya and Japanese Encephalitis. Health being a State subject, requisite technical and logistic assistance isbeingprovidedtoStates/UTs tomitigatethe healthimpact of disasters.

(b) Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) is an important surveillance program under National Health Mission that does the disease surveillance in the country. IDSP is implemented in all 36 States/UTs. The program is responsible for the surveillance of 50 plus epidemicprone diseases includingflood prone diseases inthe country.As a mandate under IDSP, surveillance, early detection of outbreaks and taking preventive actions are integral part of the programme. The gathered information helps in health preparedness of the authorities in the State for early detection and quick response in disease outbreaks through trained rapid response team (RRTs). In the year 2021, to strengthen the disease surveillance in the country, the programme has shifted from a paper-based, aggregate, weekly reporting to a paperless, case based, near real time reporting through Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) where all the 36 states/UTs are reporting. It provides a single operatingplatform of public healthsurveillance of the individualsat District, Stateand National levels.

(c) Public Health and Hospitals is a State Subject and the responsibility for strengthening of healthcare system including Mobile Medical Unit(MMU) in remote rural areas lies with respective State/Union Territory Governments. The key objective of the Mobile Medical Units is to reach the population in remote, difficult, underserved and inaccessible areas with a set of preventive, promotive and curative services, including but not limited to Reproductive Child Health (RCH) Services. These services are free for the patient at the Point of Care. National Health Mission (NHM) provides technical and financial support to the States/Union Territories for MMUs. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides support to the States based on the proposal submitted by States in PIP (Program Implementation Plan) based on the respective State’srequirementeveryyear.

(d) and (e) The Government, under the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH), National Centre for Disease Control, has adopted a comprehensive framework to strengthen climate-resilient public health preparedness in flood-prone areas. The

measures include:  Guidelines andFrameworks o Public Health Guidelines for Flood Events issued to States, covering rapid needs assessment, epidemic-pronedisease surveillance, andhealthsystem planning.

o Guidelines for Green and Climate Resilient Healthcare Facilities (February 2023) developed by NCDC, promoting resilient infrastructure, energy efficiency, water safety, andcontinuityof care. o Emergency Preparedness Checklist and Healthcare Facility Preparedness & Response Tool for Extreme Weather Events (EWE), ensuring facility-level readiness, essential supplies, referral planning,andpreparedness tracking.

 EarlyWarningandAlerts o Daily weather bulletins, flood forecasts, and special tropical outlooks disseminated by IMD toStateandDistrict Nodal Officers.  Capacity Building o Regular training of State and District Nodal Officers (SNO/DNO), block health officers, andmedicalofficers onhydrometeorologicaleventsincluding floods.

 IEC andCommunityOutreach o Dissemination of IEC materials including posters, audio-visuals, social media campaigns, and flood safety tips.  Resilient Infrastructure andPlanning o Vulnerability assessments of health facilities, retrofitting for flood resilience (e.g., raised plinths, improveddrainage,ramps, andadditionalfloors).oHospital safety and disaster management plans integrated into State Action Plans on Climate Change andHealth(SAPCCHH).

 Intersectoral Coordination oFormalized collaboration with State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA), IMD, INCOIS, GeologicalSurvey, andotheragenciesfor disaster planning andresponse. oDistrict Task Forces constituted to review preparedness and coordinate health sector action.

Further, to address the burden of mental disorders, the Government of India is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in the country. The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) component of the NMHP has been sanctioned for implementation in 767 districts for which support isbeingprovidedtoStates/UTs through the National HealthMission.

The National Disaster Management Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychological Support Services (MHPSS) in Disasters has been updated in the year 2023, with the aim to provide concrete actions and activities to be carried out through all phases of a disaster including preparedness, mitigation,response, recovery, rehabilitation,andreconstruction.

Also, the National Disaster Management Authority, in collaboration with National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru has developed modules for Disaster Mental HealthServicesasreadyreckonerfor disaster mental healthpreparedness.

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