Health professionals have expressed concern over current dengue situation in Karachi and apprehended that dengue cases would be increased in Punjab especially in Lahore on the occasion of Eidul Fitr when a large number of people would arrive here. Terming the month of August as a critical month with regard to breeding of dengue, they said all concerned departments need to work hard for elimination of dengue apart from intensifying vector surveillance and larvaeciding activities.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is personally monitoring the activities and steps taken by various departments for eradication of dengue so that this menace could not resurface this year, official sources claimed. Punjab Minister for Health, Khalil Tahir Sindhu on Thursday announced that on the instructions of CM, second "Anti-Dengue Day" would be observed on August 17. He said that federal government departments would also be immediately contacted for dengue eradication activities.
He appealed to the masses to drain out water from room coolers as these are no longer in use and could serve as the main source of dengue larvae breeding. He stressed the need for vigorous publicity and awareness campaign through mass media and other channels. He said that without enthusiastic participation of masses, dengue could not be fully controlled by the government alone.
Health minister also chaired a meeting of Cabinet committee to review measles and dengue situation in Punjab. Besides, elected representatives, Secretary Health Hassan Iqbal, Secretary Information & Culture Momin Agha and Secretaries and Addl. Secretaries of Local Government, Food, Forests and Fisheries Departments, Co-operative, Higher Education, Schools Education, VC KEMU, Professor Faisal Masood, DCO Lahore Nasim Sadiq, CM Dengue Research Cell Incharge, Dr Wasim Akram and officers of PITB, special branch, Commissioner Office and Rescue-1122 attended the meeting.
Secretary Health Hassan Iqbal told the participants of the meeting said that effective steps taken by the government and a vigorous anti-measles campaign in 24 districts have produced good results and measles is fully under control as only a few cases have been reported. He disclosed that in the first week of September, anti-measles campaign would be launched in remaining 12 districts during which 7.1 million children would be inoculated. He said that third-party validation of anti-measles campaign would also be conducted in these districts. He said that measles vaccine is being imported from Indonesia under warrantee.
Secretary Health said that August is a crucial month with regard to dengue larvae breeding; therefore all departments have to focus on vector surveillance and larvaeciding activities. On this occasion, VC KEMU Professor Faisal Masood expressed his concern over dengue situation in Karachi and said that due to travelling of people on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, there are apprehensions that dengue cases would increase in Punjab especially in Lahore. Dr Wasim Akram added that more than 500 confirmed dengue cases have been reported in Karachi so far. Health minister directed all departments to keep an eye on the situation and intensify their vector surveillance and larvaeciding activities.
Comments
Comments are closed.