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. Dastak covers over 210 million population and the hallmark of this is three times HH level visit by ASHA/AWW covering both rural and urban areas.
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.
Keeping in view the recent spread and deadly impact of Covid-19 in the state, communication for CAB and COVID vaccination have been included in Dastak communication strategy, to reach the rural and urban communities.
The Dastak strategy uses a wide range of standard and branded communication and training materials, for a variety of stakeholders. Besides, its process and impact print and video documentation is also available. Looking at the need to make the materials easily available for re-production and use by the various partners, audiences and stakeholders, a digital repository is being created where all the materials whether, audio, video or print will be banked. Any of the material will then be downloadable with an easy click of a button.
