As threat of spread of diseases like malaria, filariasis, leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases loom large, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre in collaboration with UNICEF and Kerala State Council for Science and Technology and Environment is launching the Indian Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (INNTD) on Friday.
The initiative plans to raise awareness about the issue at an institutional level and suggest preventive measures to stop re-emergence of such diseases. Primarily, it had been found that these diseases that were not reported in endemic Kerala population were found in migrant workers.
An estimated 25 lakh migrant labourers are in Kerala, mostly from five states – Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odhisa, with almost 2.35 lakhs added every year. Most of them work in construction sector and hospitality industry.
“While they play a key role in the development of the State, they could be a potential health threat to the local population. Besides, health issues, they are plagued with many social issues like tobacco use, child labour, child abuse and drug trafficking,” said K.N. Panicker, Emeritus Professor in Community Medicine at Amrita. He had earlier warned in a report to WHO the threat of such infections in Kerala.
INNTD is the Indian chapter of Washington- based Global Network of Neglected Tropical Diseases.
With a few cases of Japanese Encephalitis and Kala Azar (Visceral Leishmaniosis) cases reported from Kerala, medical experts have warned, migrant labourers from endemic region like Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal should be screened for any infection of the vector-borne disease and given treatment to prevent its further spread in the State.
