How to Control of Communicable Diseases in India?

How to Control of Communicable Diseases in India?

High priority has been accorded to the control of the following communicable diseases:

1. Malaria:

In 1958, the government of India launched the National Malaria Eradication Programme. But, due to recurrence of malaria, a modified plan of control of malaria was initiated in 1977. Therefore, the number of malaria cases has considerably fallen. The incidence of malaria came down to 1.2 million in 1992 against 7.68 million in 1987.

2. Small-pox:

By April 1977, small-pox had been completely eradicated from the country. The country was declared free from this disease in April 1977.

3. Filaria:

About 20 per cent of our population lives in areas which are prone to filaria. In order to control this disease National Filaria Control Programme was introduced in 1955. By March 1989, this programme had 204 filaria control units, 27 filaria survey units and 186 filaria control clinics and nearly 40 million people had been protected.

4. Tuberculosis (TB):

According to a survey conducted in 1955-58, about 1.8 per cent of the population was suffering from tuberculosis in India. Under the National TB Control Programme, 390 TB clinics have been functioning in different parts of the country. During recent years, about 1.6 lakh TB cases have been detected and treated every year.

5. Leprosy:

According to census of 1981, there were about 39.2 lakh leprosy cases in the country. The number of leprosy cases had been estimated at around 20 lakhs in 1990-91. To control leprosy National Leprosy Control Programme was launched in 1955.

Further in 1982, it was reorganized in the form of National Leprosy Eradication Programme. This programme aims at early detection and treatment of leprosy cases to check further spread of the disease. By 1991, more than 5 million leprosy patients had been cured.

6. AIDS:

Under the National AIDS Control Programme, 29 zonal blood testing centers had been set up in four metropolitan centers by 1990-91. 62 surveillance and 6 referral centers had been established. People are being educated on AIDS. By April 1990, 44 cases of AIDS were detected and all of then have died.

7. Blindness:

Blindness prevents millions of people from being doing productive work and leading a normal life. In 1980, about 1.4 per cent of the country’s population Indian Economic Development and Elementary Statistics was blind. The Seventh Five-Year Plan set the target of reducing this to 1 per cent of the population by 1989-90.

8. Goiter Control Programme:

About 145 million persons are suffering from this disease in the country. To control this disease, goiter edible salt is being iodized in phases.