Communicable Disease and Epidemic Prevention & Control Program

CD & EPC

Introduction:

 

Communicable Disease and Epidemic Prevention & Control Program (CD&EPC) Punjab aims to prevent & control Communicable Diseases and Epidemics/outbreaks of all notified Vector Borne, Water Borne, Zoonotic and emerging & re-emerging infection & Health challenges like Malaria, Dengue, Typhoid, Cholera, Pneumonia, SARS CoV-1, Rabies , Nigleria, Congo Hemorrhagic Fever , Chikungunya , Chicken pox , COVID-19 and other  COMMUNICABLE ENDEMIC related Diseases.

The Directorate of CD&EPC provides technical assistance & policies, Logistics, Diagnostic tools& kits, Medicines and vaccination to combat and cure Communicable diseases and contain the epidemics.

This is achieved mainly by integrated Vector Management, Disease Management & Supportive Interventions, aggressive Surveillance & early detection

Issuance of Disease alerts & advisories for general public and Health care providers

Clubbed with massive general public awareness campaigns through social, electronic and Print medi , awareness walks & seminars

Brief History:

To combat unprecedented Dengue Epidemic in 2011, although Government started multipronged activities but there was lack of a comprehensive plan with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. To meet this deficiency, Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department developed a Plan under the title of “Prevention and Control Program of Epidemics in Punjab” spanning on one year. Current CD&EPC Program has evolved from Malaria Control Program under Roll Back Malaria Initiative RBM and the Dengue Control Program. In 2017, PC-1 with the title of Communicable Disease Control in Punjab 2017-19 was launched .Gestation period was extended till June, 2021.

 

CDC & EPC Merger-2019

In pursuance of the decisions of the 52nd Evaluation Committee Meeting vide: Planning & Development Department No.: DG M&E/ES/2014/2774, dated 24th September 2013, the following administrative structural changes pertaining to “Prevention & Control Program of Epidemics in Punjab” are notified with immediate effect:

  1. Directorate of Communicable Disease Control, under the overall control of the Director Health Services (CDC), is hereby re-designated as “Directorate of Communicable Diseases & Epidemic Prevention & Control (CD&EPC), under the overall supervision of the Director Health Services (CDC).
  2. The DHS (CDC) reporting to the Director General Health Services, Punjab, hereafter shall be solely responsible for all epidemics and communicable diseases, their prevention and control in all 36 districts of the Punjab through their district setup.

 

Vision:

Healthy People in a Healthy World: Through Prevention

 

Objectives

  • Make institutionalized and sustainable arrangements to combat Dengue and other epidemics  
  • Protect the population of Punjab from Dengue fever and other infectious diseases.
  • Introduce comprehensive health including preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative components
  • Enhance coverage and quality of healthcare at all levels including districts, tehsils/towns and union councils
  • Maintain preparedness all the time to combat Dengue and other epidemics
  • Ensure involvement of community, civil society and community leaders in controlling Dengue and other epidemics in the Punjab
  • To prevent transmission of communicable diseases in general population of all age groups
  • Surveillance and response to prioritized communicable diseases i.e. Malaria, Dengue Fever, Rabies, Congo Fever, Influenza H1N1, Pneumonia, Typhoid, Cholera etc and emerging diseases like COVID-19
  •  All public health emergencies, including floods and epidemics
  • Procurement and provision of insecticides for dengue fever prevention
  • Procurement of medicines and other consumables for epidemic control of all communicable diseases
  • Capacity Building of health staff in field
  • Coordination with National IHR focal points
  • Operational Research

 

Services and Initiatives

  • Support to Provincial Command & Control Center for COVID-19 Data Management
  • Supervision of District Level Disease Surveillance & Response Units (DDSRUs)
  • Development of COVID-19 SOPs with the inputs of all Stakeholders
  • Trainings/Capacity building sessions regarding field surveillance, sample collection and transportation, proper usage of PPEs (Donning & Doffing), Diagnostic techniques, Surveillance for ILI/SARI, home based care, Infection prevention and control trainings and clinical case management.
  • Procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs)
  • Strengthening and Development of COVID-19 diagnostic Labs with necessary logistics
  • General Public awareness regarding COVID-19 prevention

Emergency Preparedness

  • The Program responds to all epidemics except for diseases covered under other vertical programs
  • Floods during Monsoon season, are main focus and 24/7 coordination with the district health authorities
  • Data analysis regarding smog related diseases during early winters (Late October & November)
  • Public Health Awareness during emergencies , to avoid falling victim to epidemics / emergencies

Provision of emergency medicine before anticipated public health events

 

National Experience Sharing Conference on Dengue

 

 

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