Launched in 2018 by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath, the Dastak campaign has turned the tables on the AES/JE scourge affecting millions of children in Uttar Pradesh. The disease has shown a downward trend since the time of launch of Dastak in seven endemic districts in 2018. Garnering the frontline forces of 12 government departments, Dastak is a preventive and responsive social and behaviour change communication mission supported by UNICEF and other partners to reach the most affected communities. The government in 2019 used the same strategy to also tackle vector-borne diseases such as encephalitis, dengue, kala-azar, malaria, chikungunya, etc. Enthused with the success of Dastak in 2018 and 2019, the Uttar Pradesh government has in 2020 proposed to escalate the Dastak campaign for state wide coverage to all 75 districts of UP.
