Risk of overlapping epidemics, Nghe An is struggling to cope

Attending the meeting were representatives of leaders of departments, branches and sectors; 22 connection points of districts, cities and towns; medical units in the province. Photo: Thanh Chung

The epidemic is complicated

InNghe An, from the beginning of the epidemic to September 8, 2022, the whole province has recorded 498,328 Covid-19 patients in all districts, cities and towns. The cumulative number of recovered patients is 497,330 cases; the cumulative number of recorded deaths is 186 cases. Currently, the whole province has no level 4, level 3 and level 2 communes... The province has recorded the BA.5 sub-variant. The epidemic tends to increase again in the third quarter of 2022.

The whole province has recorded 885 cases.dengue feverDengue (180 imported cases; 705 domestic cases; 2 deaths), recorded in 45 communes, wards and towns in 15 districts and towns... In the first 7 days of September, 208 domestic cases were recorded, an average of 29.7 cases/day (2.3 cases/day in July; 12.4 cases/day in August). Currently, the province is circulating 2 types of virus D1 and D2 (strongly virulent and spreading quickly), so the risk of dengue fever outbreak in the near future is very high.

Leaders of the Provincial Center for Disease Control report on the epidemic situation in the area. Photo: Thanh Chung

The province has also recorded a number of other epidemic cases such as: 11,337 cases of influenza syndrome (no deaths); 7 cases of Japanese encephalitis; 162 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease; 89 cases of mumps; 346 cases of chickenpox; 4,251 cases of diarrhea... 2 deaths due to rabies were recorded in Thanh Chuong and Nam Dan.

Implementing Covid-19 vaccination, 100% of people aged 18 and over received the first, second, and third doses; 298,391 people aged 18 and over received the fourth dose (reaching a rate of 80.6%). For children aged 12-17, the number of children receiving the first and second doses accounted for over 100%; 167,335 children received the third dose (reaching a rate of 65.8%). For children aged 5 to 11, 344,783 children received the first dose (reaching a rate of 93.0%); 243,548 children received the second dose (reaching a rate of 65.7%).

The work of preventing and controlling epidemics in Nghe An is currently facing many difficulties and limitations: Some local steering committees for epidemic prevention and control are not really close; the involvement of local authorities is very limited and not drastic, especially in vaccination work. People are subjective in the context of the epidemic being controlled, hesitant to get the next vaccinations, do not let their children get vaccinated against Covid-19 and do not comply with regulations on epidemic prevention and control.

Leaders of Nghe An Department of Information and Communications gave their opinions on strengthening and diversifying communication and propaganda activities to raise people's awareness of disease prevention and control. Photo: Thanh Chung

Localities have not paid attention to environmental sanitation, so the effectiveness of spraying to kill adult mosquitoes has not been as effective as expected. The activities of the Steering Committee for dengue fever prevention and control in many localities, at all levels, have been carried out, but most of them are not regular. Communication activities to mobilize the community to participate in dengue fever prevention and control have not been extensive and effective.

Determined to repel the epidemic

Concluding the meeting, Mr. Bui Dinh Long highly appreciated the proactiveness of local departments and agencies in disease prevention and control. However, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also pointed out: There are still some people who are subjective and negligent in the work of preventing and fighting the epidemic. Currently, the risk of overlapping epidemics is very high.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also clearly stated the three anti-epidemic viewpoints of Nghe An province, which are: Resolutely not letting the Covid-19 epidemic break out again; quickly controlling and finding all solutions to repel dengue fever; quickly detecting, isolating and handling outbreaks as quickly as possible...

3 things to do immediately: Do better propaganda work, each locality and each sector must have its own propaganda method to change people's behavior; increase the recognition of typical examples of epidemic prevention and control to create a widespread impact. Speed ​​up the injection of Covid-19 vaccines. All levels, sectors and localities strengthen the inspection and supervision of epidemic prevention and control.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long requested departments, branches and localities to be more active and determined in disease prevention and control work to soon repel all types of epidemics. Photo: Thanh Chung

Comrade Bui Dinh Long requested: Localities should review and improve epidemic prevention and control at all levels, headed by the Chairman of the People's Committee; link the responsibilities of authorities at all levels, departments and branches with the results of epidemic prevention and control work. Commune-level People's Committees and political and social organizations in the area should "go to every alley, knock on every door, and check every subject" to mobilize people to participate in Covid-19 vaccination and dengue fever prevention and control; allocate funds, ensure adequate supplies of drugs, chemicals, and medical equipment for epidemic prevention and control work according to the "4 on-site" motto... to prevent epidemics from breaking out due to lack of resources.

The Department of Information and Communications conducts a general inspection of the disease prevention and control communication campaign of units and localities in the past time; guides and advises localities on the content and methods of appropriate communication on disease prevention and control. The Department of Education and Training directs educational institutions to continue to coordinate with local authorities and the health sector in the area to urgently review and organize vaccinations for children; and propagate dengue fever prevention and control. The Department of Finance coordinates with the Department of Health to advise the Provincial People's Committee to allocate sufficient funding for disease prevention and control activities, and prepare reserve funds for disease prevention and control when necessary.

Nghe An Department of Health organized inspection and supervision teams to support the suppression of dengue fever in three localities: Nghi Loc, Dien Chau and Quynh Luu districts; focused on preventing and controlling Covid-19, dengue fever and other infectious diseases in the area and effectively implementing Covid-19 vaccination./.