As many as 28 more patients with dengue symptoms have been brought to various city hospital during the last 28 hours. According to data compiled by the district health office, 17 patients were admitted in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), four in the Polyclinic Hospital, two in the Capital Hospital and five in Shifa International.
The District Health Officer (DHO), Dr Najeebullah Durrani, said on Saturday that out of 28 dengue patients, 19 were from Islamabad while the remaining hailed from Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Azad Kashmir and Lahore. The DHO said that an extensive fumigation had been continued in the rural areas of Islamabad. He said a team of the World Health Organization (WHO) would reach Islamabad today (Sunday) to assist the authorities the campaign to eliminate dengue mosquitoes’ breeding.
It is relevant to note here that the dengue epidemic has so far claimed 77 lives in Pakistan. The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has launched a comprehensive awareness campaign regarding preventive measures against the deadly dengue virus at all the campuses across the country. As a preventive measure, the AIOU started fumigation inside the university from September 22, which will continue till October 3.
It especially purchased a spray machine for the purpose while the campaign, initiated on the directives of Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi, is being monitored jointly by the Project Directorate and Medical Centre of the AIOU. On the other hand, Dr Zaiba Hameed, In-charge Medical Centre is also looking after the progress at all the regional campuses.
For this purpose, literature providing details of preventive measures has been prepared and distributed to all the employees of AIOU.
