UP launches Dastak Campaign to eradicate AES & JE

Question: Recently, which campaign has been launched by the UP Government to eradicate AES & JE?
(a) Samadhan
(b) Mu Hero
(c) Dastak
(d) Unnat Sheti
Answer: (c)
Related facts:

  • The Uttar Pradesh Government launched massive door to door campaign DASTAK against Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE).
  • This campaign has been launched on 1st July, 2019 by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and it will continue till 31st July, 2019.
  • The campaign was launched in association with UNICEF.
  • The objective behind the campaign is to eradicate deadly Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) disease from the state.
  • The war cry of DASTAK is Darwaja khatkhatao, AES aur JE ko Bhagao.

About AES & JE:

  • Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) is a serious public health problem in India. It is characterized as acute-onset of fever and a change in mental status (mental confusion, disorientation, delirium, or coma) and/or new onset of seizures in a person of any age at any time of the year.
  • Viruses are the main causative agents in AES cases, although other sources such as bacteria, fungus, parasites, spirochetes, chemicals, toxins, and noninfectious agents have also been reported over the past few decades.
  • Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the major cause of AES in India (ranging from 5-35 percent).
  • It is a mosquito-borne flavivirus and belongs to the same genus as dengue, yellow fever, and West Nile viruses.

Implementation of Dastak Campaign

  • Whole state machinery with the help of UNICEF will go door to door in every village of districts in the State to create awareness about the communicable diseases as well as JE and AES.
  • The tarai region of the State contributes to about 60% of the total AES cases all over the country.
  • Many departments of the state especially health, rural development, primary education will work together to spread awareness about the disease through mass media communication, provide clean drinking water, initiate sanitation drive, ensure vaccination and early treatment so that disease should be nipped in the bud.
  • Children of 600 schools in the affected areas will also be part of this campaign.

Links:
http://www.newsonair.com/News?title=Campaign-to-eradicate-AES-to-be-launched-in-UP-today&id=366770
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/big-shout-out-to-uttar-pradesh-government-unicef-lauds-cm-adityanaths-dastak-campaign-against-japanese-encephalitis/1147716/
https://gorakhpur.nic.in/event/dastak-campaign-2019/