LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has said that a visible decrease has been occurred in dengue cases because of the accelerated pace of anti-dengue activities being performed in the province.
She stated this while presiding over a meeting of cabinet committee at Civil Secretariat on Wednesday which was attended by Auqaf Minister Saeed-ul-Hassan Shah, Secretary Primary & Secondary Healthcare Capt. (R) Muhammad Usman, Commissioner and DC Lahore and concerned officials. Commissioners and DCs of different divisions and districts and CEOs attended the meeting through video link. Representatives of different government departments were also present. Health Secretary Muhammad Usman apprised the meeting about details of different anti-dengue measures.
Dr Yasmin Rashid commended the Rawalpindi administration for their hard work and directed that conduction of zero-period should be ensured in educational institutions to give awareness about dengue. She said that pregnant women could be more affected by dengue; therefore, cleanliness of room coolers should be ensured.
She said that more than ten thousand sanitary patrol staff has been recruited in Rawalpindi and other districts and action has been initiated for violation of dengue-related SOPs. Investigations are underway against officers for showing negligence, she added.
The Health Minister said that third-party validation is being done in affected areas while a large number of patients from Islamabad are under treatment in government hospitals in Rawalpindi.