Controlling dengue: Effective indoor vector surveillance ordered

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab for Health, Kh. Salman Rafiq has directed the concerned departments to make indoor vector surveillance activities more effective to control dengue.

He asked the departments to pay special attention on vector surveillance and larviciding during rainy season in particular.

He said this while presiding over a Cabinet committee meeting to review the implementation of the measures taken by various departments for dengue prevention and control, here on Wednesday. Besides members of Punjab Assembly from Lahore, Secretaries, Additional Secretaries, Commissioner Lahore, DCO Lahore and other senior officers also attended the meeting.

The officers of Health Department, Information & Culture, Higher Education, School Education, Fisheries Department, Auqaf, Labour, Local Government, Cooperative, Food Department, Punjab Information Technology Board, Punjab Institute of Blood Transfusion, Institute of Public Health, Special Branch and Dengue Experts Advisory Group briefed the meeting in connection with the vector surveillance, larviciding, public awareness campaign, registration of volunteers, inspection / registration of tyre shops, arrangements for treatment of dengue patients, training of doctors/paramedics of private sector hospitals whereas, the officers of WASA and LWMC apprised the meeting of cleanliness of different areas of the city, disposal of garbage and water draining activities undertaken.

Kh. Salman Rafiq observed that dengue larva was being reported from inside the houses in water containers. He urged upon the citizens not to stock water in open containers to prevent dengue breeding. He further said that people should dry draining water from the roofs of their houses and remove old tyres, shoppers, plastic bottles and other wastes so as dengue breeding could be checked. He directed the concerned departments to focus on vector surveillance and larviciding during rainy season. He said that de-silting of sewerage lines and drains must be completed before the start of monsoon. Kh. Salman Rafiq observed that dengue is a big social issue which can only be redressed through full community participation, for which public awareness is inevitable. Therefore, a vigorous publicity and awareness campaign should be continued.