Public Health-Preventive Health Care The Most Neglected Constitutional Obligation
Public Health is the science of preventing disease and promoting physical health: the crianmol of commanity infections; the education of the Indiduals in principles of hygiene and about disease prevention measures, the organization of medical service for the early diagnosis and preventive treatment of disease. Right to Life puaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India mcompasses within it the Fundamental and basic Human Right to Health Further. Article 47 of the Constitution of India casts a primary duty upon the State to improve Public Health. As such, in the floremost duty of the Governments to protect its people from fatal diseases, by taking up all the necessary preventive ive measures. Despite the Constitutional objectives and the mandare of Article 25(1) of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Governments have been brazenly ignoring their Constitutional Obligations In this regard. Further, the march of Law in india has also not kept pace with the scientific and medical requirements, especially magarding the Prevention of Mosquito-borne diseases like Dengue. which affects thousands of Children every year. It is common knowledge that Dengue can be fatal in Children and tends to put the entire family under severe health, mental, and financial stress Though Dengue is a preventable disease. due to lack of proper awareness of the preventive measures and the neglect of Governments, since more than two decades, children in India are being pur to immense suffering. As such, the endeavor of the present write-up is to identify arnas for immediate action of the Governments in the Fight against Dengue.
Legislative Policy Frameworks
Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which seeks to ensure the right to life to all persons, includes the Right to a Healthy, hygienic and clean environment. which would encompass within it a Dengue Mosquito menace-free environment. For the past two decades, except for adhoc& knee jerk responses in the Fight against Dengue, there has been no proper frameworks created by the State Governments. As such, in consonance with the Constitutional Objectives, it is high time that the State Goveruments frome a Comprehensive Policy for de prevention of Dengue and provide necessary Legato backing for the mesures required in be undertaken
Preventive Mesures Awarness Campaigns
Under Articles 19 & 21 of the Constitution, Chizens have a Right To Know Be made aware of the Preventive Measures and also the Symptoms of the Vector Borne Diseases like Dengue Public Health education is of paramount importance for prevention of Dengur. As such the Governments must intensify IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) Campaigns through print, electronic, social, and all other forms of Mass Media by also involving eminent Doctors. Educational Institutions & NGOs. The Public must be made aware of Dengue (Aedes) Mosquito's Domestic Breeding inside Households in open/unused Water Containers/Barkets in the plates under the Flower Pots, Roof Gutters, etc., and Community Participation on a Weekly basis must be encouraged for source reduction at Homes.
An Instant Alert Mechanism amongst the Government & Private Hospitals, Public Health Officials & the Entomology Wing officials must be created by the Government, to enable undertaking of Early Entomological Interventions upon reporting of any Probable/ Suspected or Confirmed Dengue Case.
Solid Waste Management
Solid Waste Management has a direct nexus with the growth of mosquitoes. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the Ratlam Municipal Corporation case had observed that it is the essential obligation of the State under Article 47 of the Constitution to guarantee the everyday environments of the individuals are healthy. Thus, collection and disposal of Solid Waste & Sanitation are not just a statutory duty of the Authorities but are also their Constitutional Obligations, and the Authorities must be made liable for the lapses. Sanitation Teams in the Municipalities, Municipal Corporations & Panchayats must be strengthened by the Governments, and Special Officers must be recruited & posted, and also be made Accountable for any lapses in ensuring proper Sanitation. An Ombudsman/Grievance Redressal Mechanism with timelines must be created to enable the Public to Indge complaints against any traction of the Authorities in undertaking the Vector Control Activities.
Streamlining The Public Health Departments & The Vector Control Wings
A Public Health Commission consisting of Public Health Experts & Eminent Doctors & Retd., Health Secretaries must be constituted 10 recommend Reforms in the Public Health Division of the Medical and Health Department of the State Goverruments for creating an Effective and Tramparent Public Health System in the States.
The Governments must immediately strengthen the Entomology & Vector Control Wings in the Municipal Corporations. Municipalities & Panchayats across the State by immediately filling up up the Vacancies Similarly, the Vector Borne Dheases Wings of the Medical & Health Department must also be strengthened. The additional Man Power required for undertaking the extensive field level Vector Control activities of Indoor space spraying, outdoor fogging & larval source reductions activities munt be immediately engaged and that Workforce ought not to be diverted for any other government welfare activities especially during the monsoon season.
Mechanism must be put in place for a robust GIS (Geographic Information System) Mapping/Plotting of the Dengue Cases to prevent future Dengue Epidemics. Further, there is an immediate need for Accurate Data of Dengue cases, as the same alone is the basis for undertaking inapping/plotting of Dengur Risk Areas, and acco accordingly mosquito breeding steps can he intensified in those arvas. As such, it is high time that the Governments easure transparency in the official number of Dengue Cases reported.
In order to provide our Children a Dengue-Free, Safe & Healthy environment, while law can be an effective tool. Lawyers too have a significant role, and in the words of the Poet Robert Frost. We have Miles to go before we can sleep.