Eliminating diseases, one region at a time

Syllabus: GS III, Subject: Science and Technology, Topic: Medical science and Health, Issue: Vaccine Administration in India

Context: Reports indicate that guinea worm disease is close to eradication.

Disease elimination:

• Disease elimination aims at stopping transmission in a defined region, while eradication permanently eliminates a pathogen with no risk of reintroduction.

Significance of disease elimination certification:

• Enhances public health, energizes the health system, and improves primary care, diagnostics, and surveillance.
• Encourages preparedness and attracts international support.
• Increase involvement of field staff and community health workers, with high political and bureaucratic commitment and public support.

The way ahead

• Careful planning, considering costs, benefits, and political support.
• Prioritizing pathogens with high impact and low prevalence.
• Essential investments in surveillance, laboratories, workforce training, monitoring.
• Localized and phased strategies.
• Multisectoral collaboration and resource redeployment.

Source: The Hindu