Kerala's health drive: Three-day 'dry day' launched to combat epidemics

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a proactive move to counter the seasonal surge of infectious diseases, the Kerala Health Department has announced a state-wide, three-day "Dry Day" campaign spanning Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The directive follows a high-level review meeting chaired by the Health Minister, which brought together District Collectors and District Medical Officers to evaluate current public health measures.

The intensive three-day drive is specifically designed to address gaps in the state’s ongoing pre-monsoon sanitation efforts, systematically targeting vector breeding grounds across different sectors:

• Friday: Sanitation drives will focus entirely on schools and educational institutions.
• Saturday: Anti-larval measures and cleaning operations will shift to public and private offices, commercial establishments, and other institutions.
• Sunday: The campaign will culminate at the community level, with citizens urged to eliminate stagnant water sources in and around their residential properties.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan emphasized the critical need to fortify preventive measures against dengue fever. Furthermore, the Health Department’s intensified protocols aim to mitigate the transmission risks of other highly contagious infections currently under surveillance, including Shigella. Local administrative bodies have been directed to ensure absolute compliance and widespread community participation across the three designated days.