The major initiatives taken by the Department of Health are implementation of National Health Programmes throughout the country to control communicable and Non-communicable diseases like Malaria, T.B., Leprosy, Blindness, AIDS, Cancer etc. schemes are also under implementation for strengthening surveillance and epidemic response system to prevent outbreak of infectious diseases.

    There is a marginal increase of Rs.14.80 crore (1.3 per cent) in the outlay for the current year (Rs.1160.00 crore) over that of the last year (Rs.1145.20 crore) for central sector health programmes. The foreign aid component has in fact declined by Rs.40.53 crore (7.7 per cent) during the corresponding period. Within the available resources priorities are so determined to have wide impact on the health of the people. About 57 per cent of the Plan outlay is for the National Health Programme for the control of some of the major communicable diseases implemented as Centrally Sponsored Schemes. In a number of disease control projects, substantial external assistance (over 70 per cent has been mobilised to ensure that the Centre can assist the States in the critical areas of containment and eradication of diseases.

NATIONAL ANTI MALARIA PROGRAMME

    National Anti Malaria Programme is a Centrally Sponsored National Health Programme. The number of malaria cases was brought down to 3 million in 1997 approximately as against 6.476 million in 1976. The National Anti-Malaria Programme, a centrally sponsored category – II scheme on 50:50 cost sharing basis between the Centre and the States is being implemented since 1979. However, for the North-Eastern States this is a 100 per cent Centrally Sponsored Scheme since December, 1994 to ensure effective control of malaria keeping in view the endemicity of malaria in this region.

    An Enhanced Malaria Control Project with World Bank support covering 1045 PHCs in 100 tribal predominant and malaria enedemic districts in 7 peninsular States for intensifying malaria control activities by way of additional inputs through a mix of interventions is in operation since September, 1997. The project involves an outlay of Rs.891.04 crore spread over a period of five years.

    About 2.2 million new cases of TB occur every year. Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) envisages to enhance the cure rate to 85 per cent as compared to less than 40 per cent in the earlier programme. The new concept of Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) has been initiated to bring better compliance, increased treatment success rate and to avoid drug resistance. The programme is presently covering a population of 200 milllion. It has been decided to cover about 500 million population under DOTS by 2002.

    Prevalence rate of Leprosy has been reduced from 5.3/10000 population in 1981 to 5.07/10000 population by March, 2000 (provisional). Vigorous implementation of the National Leprosy Eradication Programme and coverage of all districts under the Multi-Drug Treatment Scheme have made this possible. There are 4.97 lakh leprosy patients in India as on March,2000.

    India has been officially declared Guineaworm free by WHO in February, 2000. This is a major achievement as there were 40,000 cases of Guineaworm infection in 1984 when the eradication programme was launched. This is the second major disease eradication by India, next to small pox.

    Estimates of HIV infection at national level are about 3.5 million. As on 30^th April, 2000, a cumulative total of 96694 persons have been reported to be HIV positive from a total of 3.6 million people screened for the infection. At the same time, 11,566 full-blown AIDS cases have been reported. Sentinel surveillance data shows Maharashtra as the most affected state followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Manipur, where the prevalence has been between 1-2 per cent among the antenatal women.

    The second phase of the National Aids Control Programme was launched in November, 1999. The focus is on targeted interventions among groups having high-risk behaviours, decentralising the programme to the States and emphasising the need for multi-sectoral approach. Thirty-five State AIDS Control societies were formed in the 32 States/UTs and 3 Municipal Corporations and there is a growing partnership between government, NGO’s and the Society. A Family Health Awareness Campaign was launched throughout the country. It aims at reducing the transmission of STD by promoting early detection and treatment and thereby slowing the spread of HIV infection in the community.

    A National Programme for Control of Cataract Blindness for 1999-2000 has been drawn up which includes expansion of the activities to the entire country. This was earlier implemented in seven States. The programme includes creating infrastructure for eye care service through cataract surgery.

    The important nutritional problems such as Protein Energy Malnutrition, Nutritional Anaemia, Vitamin A deficiency, and Iodine deficiency disorder causes great morbidity and mortality amongst the children and the young. Several steps have been taken to supplement these nutrients. These include a) mid day meal programme to supplement the protein and the caloric requirement of the school going children. B) Anganwadi also supplies food supplement to the under five years old, c) Vitamin A supplementation is being done along with the immunisation and also plans have been made to fortify certain edible oils with it. D) To cater to the problem of Iodine deficiency, it had been earlier decided to ban sale of non-iodised salt for direct human consumption in the health interest of our people. However, realising that in such matters of individual choice it is better to undertake public awareness and sensitisation measures rather than coercive measures, a draft notification banning sale of non-iodised salt for direct human consumption has been issued on 10.5.2000 for inviting public comments. 45 days time has been prescribed for inviting public objections and comments.

    Though it is a mammoth problem the Government has taken concrete steps to provide certain basic sanitary facilities. It is the Government’s effort to ensure that the entire population has access to safe drinking water. Presently, 85 per cent of rural and 95 per cent of the urban has access to safe drinking water. Some Non-governmental organisations have done pioneering work in the field of sanitation.