The Sindh government has approved the PC-1 of Dengue Prevention and Control Programme Sindh for three years (2015 to 2018) and the programme management has been given a task to control prevalence of dengue in the city, it was learnt on Thursday.
An official at the health department told PPI that the provincial government had approved the PC-1 of dengue prevention and control programme Sindh and allocated Rs 250 million fund for the programme. He said that funds would be released soon.
After the release of funds, hiring of an additional programme manager, two deputy programme managers, an entomologist, an environment specialist, five social mobilisers, 30 field workers, 10 drivers and other staff will be done to run the affairs of programme smoothly and effectively.
An official said that six Suzuki vans and 30 motorcycles would be purchased for fumigation. He said the health department had upgraded the dengue surveillance cell Sindh into dengue prevention and control programme Sindh about two years ago for initial period of four months and now approved the PC-1 of programme for three years.
The dengue cases have been reported in Sindh province, especially in Karachi city since 2005 to date and finally the provincial government approved the PC-1 of programme for three years after lapse of 10 years. The dengue prevention and control programme Sindh is currently ineffective since last two years due to shortage of technical staff and funds.
In 2015, at least 3,692 dengue fever cases were reported in Sindh province, out of which 3,596 occurred in Karachi alone while dengue claimed 11 precious lives last year and all these cases were reported in Karachi.