The Punjab Health Department has issued necessary guidelines to all the principals of the autonomous medical institutions, medical superintendents of public sector hospitals and all the Punjab Health EDOs regarding the control of epidemics resulting from food and waterborne diseases, especially gastroenteritis during the summer and monsoon seasons.
They have been asked to make special arrangements for the prevention of the diseases as well as for the treatment of the patients.
In this connection, a control room has been set up at the Health Services Directorate General office. Communicable Diseases Control (CDC) director has been nominated as the focal person for this control room project.
A Health department spokesman informed that a circular has already been issued to all the principals of autonomous medical institutions, medical superintendents of government hospitals and Health EDOs of all districts.
They have been asked to put the necessary epidemiological measures in place, according to international protocols and to provide prompt quality care to the gastroenteritis patients.
The spokesman said the control room will collect daily reports regarding the cases of gastroenteritis from the teaching hospitals as well as from the periphery which will be consolidated and submitted to the higher authorities on a daily basis.
The administrations of all the public sector hospitals have been directed to display at least two banners at each tertiary and DHQ hospital and one banner at each at the THQ, RHC and BHU levels, indicating the availability of medicines for gastroenteritis patients.
The department has directed all the Health EDOs to test samples of drinking water from the source and supply points in the affected areas and to ensure the chlorination of water reservoirs. Moreover, the public health and food departments of district governments have also been asked to send samples of eatables collected from the markets to the laboratories for analysis.
The district administrations have also been requested to impose Section 144 for control on the sale of cut fruits, ice cubes and substandard ice-creams and locally prepared uncovered drinks. The hospital administrations have been directed to ensure the provision of ORS, intravenous drips and essential medicines at all the health facilities.
The Health EDOs have been directed to establish disease surveillance systems and immediate notification and prompt case response.
They have been also been directed to established a control room at the Health EDO level, the data from which should be faxed daily to the headquarters.
