Public health committee discusses measures to tackle infectious diseases
Coordinated activities by various departments are important for the prevention and control of infectious diseases. The Statelevel public health committee, districtlevel committees and the committees at regional/localbody levels should meet at periodic intervals, assess the situation of infectious diseases accurately and take necessary preventive and control measures, Health Minister Veena George has said.
She was speaking at the first meeting of the Statelevel public health committee here on Thursday after the unified Kerala Public Health Act, 2023 was notified. The meeting was chaired by the Minister.
Strong preventive measures are required ahead of the monsoon season to prevent the outbreak of dengue, leptospirosis and other vectorborne illnesses. Premonsoon cleaning and sanitation measures are of utmost importance to prevent infectious disease outbreaks, Ms. George said.
The Kerala Public Health Act, 2023 became a reality after unifying the provisions in the Madras
Public Health Act, 1939 and the TravancoreCochin Public Health Act, 1955 and by bringing in necessary and contemporary changes. The Act is a comprehensive one, which stresses on One Health as the basis of good public health measures.
Committee
The Statelevel public health committee chaired by the Health Minister has the Principal Secretary (Health) as vicechairman and the Director of Health Services as member secretary. The other members on the committee include the Director of the Local
SelfGovernment department, Director of Medical Education, Director of Indian Systems of Medicine, Director of Homoeopathy, Commissioner of Food Safety, Director of Agriculture Development and Farmers’ Welfare, Director of Animal Husbandry, Director of the Fisheries department and the Director of the Dairy Development department.
In order to ensure public health, the State, district and locallevel public health committees should meet at specific intervals and take necessary action at the State/district or local level.