Gangasagar Mela 2019: Evaluation of health care in the mass gathering

Abstract

Context: One health concept relies on the principle of human health, animal health, and environmental health. Mass gatherings challenge all of them and warrant the transmission of infectious diseases, physical injuries, and an impact on local and global health systems and services. Thereby, a robust and coordinated management of various sectors is solicited to mitigate the challenges of health care in the pop-up townships of mass gathering. Aims: The aim of the study is to evaluate the curative, preventive, promotive, and medicolegal health services of the pilgrims. Settings and Design: A descriptive epidemiological study with cross-sectional design was conducted in the Gangasagar Mela 2019. Subjects and Methods: The observational epidemiological study was done through interaction with the concerned authorities: transect walk and survey of curative, preventive, and medicolegal health services using all enumeration techniques. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were analyzed using the principles of descriptive statistics. Results: Outpatient department attendance at five temporary hospitals was 6176 patients. Predominant complaints were respiratory ailments followed by gastrointestinal complaints. Inpatient department (IPD) including field-level high dependency unit and trauma care center admissions were 190 patients, of whom 25 were referred to higher facilities and 2 deaths occurred. Conclusions: The study provided an opportunity to generate an evidence base for generation of solutions and recommendations for the prevention and control of infectious diseases and accidents during the mass gatherings. This could provide information on the development of context-specific methods for the improvement and sustainment of optimum health and sanitary conditions for the visitors during Gangasagar Mela or any other mass gatherings across the globe.

Keywords

• gangasagar mela
• health care
• mass gatherings
• pop-up town
• sunderbans