The Kerala branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has formed a task force and an expert cell as part of its mission to prevent and control mounting cases of epidemic outbreaks in the state during the last few years.

According to IMA sources, the main activity of the task force and cell is to create awareness on hygiene and preventive measures to ward off infectious diseases, implemented in association with other social organizations and residential associations. The 13,000 odd doctors working in the state, coordinated through the 89 branches of Kerala IMA, is in the process of conducting various awareness schemes among the public.

Further, IMA has constituted state and district task force committees headed by coordinators to carry out various awareness programmes suitable to each of the 14 districts in the state. Besides, the expert cell consisting of 50 doctors, who have specialized training in prevention and treatment of epidemics, impart CME training among fellow doctors and classes among the public.

The thrust of the mission is to seek public participation and the association has identified residential associations as a major ally to convey the methods of prevention. A few weeks ago, IMA conducted a meeting of the residential associations in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram to work out details of conducting the awareness programmes. The IMA also had conducted a major rally, attended by the state chief minister and health minister, in Thiruvananthapuram as part of the programme. Similar initiatives are being implemented in different parts of the state, informed Dr Alex Franklin, president of IMA, Thiruvananthapuram.

He noted that the state has been witnessing outbreak of various infectious diseases like cholera, dysentery, dengue fever, leptospirosis, malaria etc for the last few years, especially during the monsoon season. According to the statistics available, from January to May 2004, 29 people died of lepto fever and the disease seriously affected 279 people. 178 cases of dengue fever were reported during the period, which included two deaths. Five people died of malaria, out of a total of 391 cases reported during the period, said the sources.