Title: Nipah Virus Threat Looms Large Amidst Ongoing Focus on COVID-19
In a world preoccupied with battling the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of the Nipah virus poses a growing threat to global health. While the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 no longer a pandemic, the shadow of the SARS-CoV-2 virus still looms large. Amidst the efforts to monitor its genomic variations, attention and resources are being diverted from other infectious diseases that continue to pose significant risks.
One such disease is the Nipah virus, which remains a persistent danger. The recent outbreak in September was contained by the timely action of health authorities in Kerala, India. However, this incident marks the third outbreak of Nipah virus in Kerala’s Kozhikode district, the fourth in the state since 2018, and the sixth in the entire country.
The repeated occurrence of such outbreaks reveals the vulnerabilities in our public health systems. While the containment of the Nipah virus showcased the effectiveness of alert health officials, there have been numerous instances highlighting the other extreme.
A sharp increase in deaths in Maharashtra’s Shankarrao Chavan government hospital in Nanded district raised concerns once again. Within a span of 48 hours, 35 patients, including 12 infants, lost their lives, prompting a red alert.
Initial blame was placed on increased footfall rather than the lack of staff, infrastructure, or medication. Disturbing reports from parents claimed that multiple infants were sharing a single incubator in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), indicating a shortage of critical resources.
This tragic incident is not an isolated event but rather a recurring pattern not only in Maharashtra but also in other states across India.
Apart from addressing the gaps in healthcare infrastructure, it is crucial to consistently track and combat infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), malaria, and dengue. According to the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report of 2022, India bears 28% of the global TB burden and witnesses 36% of TB-related deaths. TB poses a ticking time bomb with a short fuse, which is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi aims to eliminate TB in India by 2025, five years ahead of the global deadline.
However, the availability of anti-TB medicines remains a significant challenge. Organizations like Survivors Against TB (SATB) have shed light on severe shortages of essential medications for multi-drug resistant TB cases in government hospitals and private pharmacies across Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, and other states. Medications such as linezolid, clofazimine, and cycloserine are hard to come by, jeopardizing years of progress in TB management.
Despite these concerns, the government has refuted reports of medicine shortages in a titled ‘Myths vs facts’ clarification issued by the health ministry. This denial has prompted further questions from SATB, deepening the lack of trust between stakeholders.
One of the critical gaps in India’s public health system is the scarcity of doctors and healthcare staff willing to serve in government facilities beyond urban areas. A recent study titled ‘The pharmacy as a primary care provider’ suggests training pharmacists to play a more substantial role in improving primary care, especially in the South Asian context. The study emphasizes the inherent qualities of pharmacies in providing access to health information and care, proposing protocols and training to enhance their clinical services.
In addition to pharmacists, community health workers (CHWs) remain an underutilized resource. A separate article titled ‘Evolution of community health workers: The fourth stage’ suggests that CHWs can progress from being health messengers to comprehensive care providers, exerting control over healthcare delivery and ensuring quality care.
Addressing the gaps in infrastructure and human resources can be facilitated by technological advancements. The revolution in radiology and imaging technologies, coupled with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), holds promise in enhancing TB screening and early diagnosis. Collaborations between the public and private sectors are essential to scale up these interventions successfully.
As the battle against COVID-19 continues, it is crucial not to overlook the persistent threats posed by other infectious diseases like the Nipah virus and tuberculosis. Strengthening public health systems, ensuring adequate medication supplies, leveraging the potential of pharmacists and community health workers, along with embracing technological advancements, can pave the way towards a robust and resilient healthcare landscape.
In a world that remains vulnerable to infectious diseases, it is necessary to maintain a balanced focus to protect the health and well-being of individuals and communities.
