Punjab Health Secretary Hassan Iqbal has urged the citizens to adopt all possible measures against the dengue virus.
He said this while chairing a meeting at the Commissioner’s Office. “Due to the current monsoon season and favourable temperature, there is a danger of dengue outbreak and preventive measure in this regard can help overcome it,” he added.
The meeting was attended by members of the National Assembly Malik Ibrar Ahmed, Tahira Aurangzeb and Asia Naz Tanooli and Commissioner Khalid Masood Chaudhary.
He said, “During the current year, 11 confirmed and 1,042 suspected dengue cases had been reported. Junkyards, under construction buildings, used tyres and room coolers acts as breeding grounds for these mosquitoes.”
He told the meeting that measles vaccination drive would be launched in 18 districts after Eid. During the campaign 7.1 million children would be vaccinated in Chakwal, Mandi Baha-ud-Din, Khushab, Jhelum, Gujrat, Vehari and Multan.
Highlighting the measles outbreak he stated that it had been successfully controlled this month due to the measures taken by the government. “Only 10 children died of measles in July as compared to 43 in June and 71 in May,” he added.
The Rawalpindi Commissioner apprised the meeting that all necessary arrangements had been made in the city to prevent dengue outbreak.
DENGUE AWARENESS WALK HELD: Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi on Saturday organised dengue awareness walks to create educated the masses of the dangers of dengue and relevant precautionary measures against it.
Dengue awareness walks were held from all Rescue Stations of the district situated at Rawal Road, Civil Lines, Kalma Chowk, Bahria Town and Pir Wadhai.
The rescue teams visited commercial and residential areas and checked for any breeding places of dengue mosquitoes. Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) marked the Dengue Day on Saturday by organising public awareness activities and highlighting preventive measures for dengue eradication in the province, on the directions of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
District Emergency Officer, Rawalpindi Dr Abdur Rehman directed all station coordinators to ensure cleanness of rescue stations and vehicles. The trainers of Training Wing, Rawalpindi conducted an awareness seminar for the rescuers at Central Rescue Station.
Furthermore, the training team also provided awareness to the participants of a family gala at Rawalpindi Press Club. Punjab Emergency Service Director General (DG) Dr Rizwan Naseer reviewed dengue arrangements and activities in a meeting held at the Rescue Headquarters.
The meeting was attended by in-charges of different wings of Rescue Service whereas the District Emergency Officers of Punjab were taken on board through video conference. The DG also reviewed pictorial data of the districts regarding anti-dengue campaign across the province.
He directed that cleanliness should be ensured throughout the year and anti-dengue measures should be taken on periodical basis in order to eradicate the virus completely.
District Emergency Officers briefed the DG of cleanliness measures taken by their staff. They said that the rescue field staff was voluntarily and proactively providing services of dengue larvae detection after training by entomologists.
Moreover, the staff has been continuously working for identification of vulnerable sites of dengue larvae breeding, under supervision of these entomologists.