Dengue data inaccurate as private hospitals hide record

The administration of Prevention and Control Programme for Dengue in Sindh lacks accurate data of dengue patients in Karachi as private hospitals are either not maintaining such records or they are reluctant to share it with the programme administration.

Prevention & Control Programme for Dengue in Sindh Programme Manager Dr Masood Ahmed Solangi, while talking to a news agency, said the peak season of dengue viral fever has already started in Karachi and it is likely to continue till December, but some private sector hospitals of the city, including Indus Hospital Karachi, Darul Sehat Hospital, Clifton Medical Center, Hill Park General Hospital, South City Hospital and some other hospitals are not coordinating with the programme management.

He said there was poor record-keeping of dengue patients in the private hospitals. He added that the private hospitals were also reluctant to share the data mainly to maintain the secrecy of their patients.

He said the civic authorities concerned should direct the private hospitals to maintain a proper and complete record of the dengue patients in their healthcare facilities.

He said the availability of a proper data is vital for comprehensive planning to curb dengue. Dr Solangi said the peak season of malaria and dengue viral fever has already begun in Karachi but the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) authorities have failed to launch a fumigation drive in the city as of yet due to a shortage of funds.

He said dengue larva breeding rapidly increases after rains but no concrete step has been taken so far to check it. He informed that several letters and reminders have already been sent to KMC and other related departments to ensure cleanliness of major drains and other water sites throughout the Karachi to avoid the spread of dengue mosquitoes, but no positive response has been received in this regard so far.

He said post-monsoon situation usually leads to the formation of pockets of dirty water which are the main source of dengue breed and spread. He said expected sites for pockets of dengue are nurseries, graveyards, lakes, ponds, swimming pools, tyre shops, water pumping stations/hydrants, construction cities and waste and dump areas.

He said the actual number of dengue cases and related mortalities could be much higher as there is no system in place to record the actual data. He said mosquito-borne dengue virus has already claimed two lives in 2016 and 1,267 cases are reported from different hospitals of the Sindh province.

He demanded of the civic authorities concerned to launch anti-dengue fumigation drive across the city, and issue necessary directives for sharing and maintaining a record of dengue patients in both the government and private healthcare facilities.