Vector-born diseases: Punjab chief minister for setting up special bureau

Setting up health volunteer force on the pattern of Thailand and a bureau for effective control of vector born diseases is inevitable for eradication of dengue. Chief minister Punjab has issued instructions to the departments concerned for undertaking preventive measures expeditiously so that the situation like the last year could be averted.
This stated by Vice Chairman Dengue Control Steering Committee, Khawaja Salman Rafique in a meeting of central emergency response committee, here on Tuesday. Rafique said that vector surveillance and vector response activities should be ensured in all districts for elimination of dengue. He also stressed the need for launching a vigorous media campaign for promoting public awareness in this regard.
Secretary Health Punjab, Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan informed that vector surveillance teams conducted survey of 5790 places, 10,926 containers and 22,605 houses from January 1 to January 15 in Lahore and larva of dengue was found only at five places and eight houses. He further said that larvae surveillance and response work has also been started in Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Pakpattan, Khanewal, Rawalpindi and Multan. He said that the department has again enforced Dengue Control Regulations-2011 in the province, which will continue till 30th November 2012. He said that health department will provide medicine for spray and larviciding to all districts by February 10.
Secretary Environment, Sajjad Salim Hotiana informed about training of master trainers in Thailand and Sri Lanka, meetings with medical experts of those countries and other engagements in this regard. Secretary Social Welfare, Akram Javed briefed about activities from the platform of the department for promoting public awareness against dengue.
Additional Secretary Informa-tion & Culture Department, Tahir Raza Hamdani said the campaign has been started through print and electronic media for mobilising people against dengue and awareness programmes have been started through street theatres, FM-95, posters exhibition and stage show 'Ainak Wala Jin'.
On the occasion, Commissioner Lahore, Jawad Rafique Malik briefed the meeting about the measures taken by city district government, PHA, Solid Waste Management Committee and Wasa for the eradication of dengue virus. He said that larvavorous fish are being released in the lakes of parks for checking the growth of mosquito.
Chairman Dengue Expert Advisory Group, Professor Faisal Masood termed the deaths attributed to dengue during the first two weeks of January 2012 as dubious and said that the specific test for dengue patients NS1 was conducted on more than 50 patients but no patient was found positive. He said that those who had died were heart patients and their deaths were caused by bone marrow separation.
Secretary Health Punjab, Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, Secretary Agriculture, Captain Arif Nadeem (Retd), Secretary Environment Punjab, Sajjad Salim Hotiana, Secretary Social Welfare, Akram Javed, Commissioner Lahore, Jawad Rafique Malik, District Co-ordination Officer, Lahore Ahad Khan Cheema, Special Secretary Local Government, Saqib, Secretary School Education, Addl. Secretary Information & Culture, Tahir Raza Hamdani, Addl. Secretary Health (Technical), Dr Anwar Janjua, Director General PITB, Aamir Chaudhry, Chairman Dengue Expert Advisory Group, Professor Dr Faisal Masood and senior officers of Institute of Public Health and other departments were present on the occasion.