- Punjab CM’s health advisor says five dengue cases were reported from Lahore and two from Rawalpindi
- Punjab government’s health machinery briefs meeting about anti-dengue measures
Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique has said that 13 confirmed dengue patients have been reported in Punjab during current year out of which five cases have reported from Lahore and two from Rawalpindi.
While talking to journalists after presiding over a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Dengue at 90-Shara-e-Quaid Azam Tuesday, Rafique said that indoor spray was being carried out as case response strategy in that particular area from where any dengue patient is reported.
Moreover, Technical Advisory Committee has not recommended fogging as adult dengue mosquitoes are reported in limited number. He said that excessive use of chemical is hazardous for human health.
The meeting reviewed in detail the steps taken by different departments for dengue control. Besides members of Punjab Assembly Nawaz Chauhan, Shiekh Ijaz Ahmed, Kiran Dar, Lubna Faisal, Health Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik, Health DG Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, secretaries and additional secretaries of concerned departments, DCOs of Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala, Punjab Information Technology Board DG, officers of Solid Waste Management Company, WASA and Special Branch and EDOs Health of Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura and Gujranwala attended the meeting.
Senior officers of Health Department, Higher Education, School Education, Cooperatives, Forests and Fisheries, Auqaf, Agriculture, Irrigation, Local Government, Environment, Social Welfare Department briefed the meeting regarding the steps taken by their departments for indoor and outdoor dengue surveillance and awareness activities.
The DCOs of Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, DG PITB, officers of Rescue-1122, Special Branch and Metrological Department also apprised the meeting of the steps taken by the district governments and other departments and implementation of dengue regulations.
Health Department Vector Born Disease Additional Director General Dr Islam Zafar informed that during 2013 there were 2,629 confirmed case of dengue whereas during current year only 13 confirmed dengue patients have been reported so far. He also briefed about the dengue surveillance, vector surveillance and larvaeciding activities carried out by the Health Department. It was also informed that indoor spray had already been completed in schools and colleges before their reopening after summer vacations.
Rafique expressed his satisfaction over the efforts being made by different government departments for control of dengue. He directed that in view of excessive rains in the month of September all departments should pursue anti-dengue activities vigorously.
He urged upon educational authorities to arrange awareness seminars for the students. He also directed the Auqaf Department to ensure a brief speech by the Imam of mosques before Juma prayers for creating awareness about curbing polio and dengue.