Community and Student Health Volunteers Launching an Awareness Campaign on Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Zahedan outskirts

Report from: ZAUMS Communicable Diseases Control Department
Published on: 14 August 2019

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a potentially fatal virus infection that has the widest geographic range among all tick-borne viruses. The disease is endemic in many regions, such as Africa, Asia, Eastern and Southern Europe, and Central Asia. Recently, the incidence of CCHF has increased rapidly in the countries of the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region (WHO EMR), with sporadic human cases and outbreaks of CCHF being reported from a number of countries in the region (1).

Several cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) have been reported since summer 1999 in different areas of Iran (2). According to Center for Diseases Control, Iranian Ministry of Health, the Sistan and Baluchestan province currently has the highest number of reported confirmed and suspected cases of CCHF in Iran.

It has been shown that the population residing in Zahedan perceives a high likelihood of CCHF risk. Improving public knowledge and awareness could result in a more realistic assessment of CCHF risk, hence better compliance with taking precaution measures to tackle the disease (3).

Following an increase in the number suspected cases of CCHF in Sistan & Balouchestan province since March 2019, Community Health Volunteers, along with healthcare workers from Zahedan University of Medical Sciences have participated in an awareness raising campaign. They have embarked on disseminating information and raising awareness on the ways to prevent CCHF in the society.

Part of the activities carried out by CHVs to control CCHF in Zahedan Includes:

Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever training session held for ZAUMS student CHVs by Director of Communicable Diseases Department of Vice Chancellery for Health, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences
Workshop on CCHF Crimean Congo Fever Disease at Zahedan Health Center for health volunteers trainers to use health volunteers" capacity to inform the society
Holding a training class in health posts for CHVs on CCHF and ways to prevent it
A total of 45 student CHVs in comprehensive health service centers, health posts, central lab, hospitals, mosques, Shiite and Sunni Friday prayers events, livestock breeding town, daily prayer venues, Eid-al -Adha prayer venues and participated in face to face and group training, and pamphlet and flyer distribution in collaboration with healthcare workers to educate and inform people about ways to prevent CCHF
A number of 736 CHVs have been involved in pamphlet distribution in comprehensive health service centers, health posts, health houses, religious seminaries, Neighborhood Health Foci, schools, mosques, Shi"a and Sunni prayers
More than 164 clerics and religious figures participated in education in mosques and schools
Setting up of health stations in Boo-Ali Infectious Disease Specialty Hospital in two stages (for 7 days) by CHVs to disseminate information to the patients