Stressing on the need for early preparedness for management of vector-borne diseases, the Union Health Ministry has asked the agencies concerned to create a separate registry for such cases originating and being treated in Delhi.

The ministry also directed the officials to visit various hospitals in Delhi to assess the situation, preparedness and to provide on the spot technical guidance to the health authorities, an official statement said. Subsequent to the high-level review of the status of vector borne diseases with 20 endemic states in the country, Union Health Minister J P Nadda today chaired a meeting to review the preparedness of various agencies to prevent and manage vector-borne diseases in the national capital.

The statement read, "Emphasising on the need for adequate early preparedness for management of vector-borne diseases, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda advised the agencies to create a separate registry for cases originating and being treated in Delhi."

"He said the focus should be on active case finding for source identification and reduction of vectors and transmission," it said. Mayor of East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) Bipin Bihari Singh, Secretary (Health) Preeti Sudan, DGHS Promila Gupta,  commissioners of various municipal corporations, representatives and senior officers from Delhi Government were among those present in the meeting.

At the meeting, Nadda said there should be no shortage of diagnostic kits, drugs, testing labs, manpower and funds. "Awareness being the key to prevention of many diseases, Nadda stressed on the importance of conducting focussed and intensive IEC campaigns and sustaining them through the monsoon season, especially at the time of onset of monsoon," the statement said. The health minister also directed the officers concerned "to conduct supervisory visits to various hospitals in Delhi for assessing the situation, preparedness and to provide on the spot technical guidance to the health authorities."