LAHORE:
A cleanliness day was observed on Sunday to educate citizens about the importance of cleanliness in minimising the chances of dengue fever outbreak.
Walks were arranged at hospitals to mark the day.
Post Graduate Medical Institute and Lahore General Hospital Principal Anjum Habib Vohra said rainwater could become a breeding ground for dengue larvae.
“I have cancelled leaves of the hospital staff until October 31 in view of torrential rains,” Vohra said on Sunday. He said four additional medical superintendents had been made focal persons to ensure that dengue fever patients received best possible treatment.
The focal persons are Rana Muhammad Shafiq, Khalid Mahmood, Qaiser Perveen and Tariq Sultan Butt.
Vohra said no hospital employee would be allowed to leave his duty before handing over charge to the next shift. He said no compromise would be made on cleanliness arrangements at the hospital.
Students, faculty and staff at the University of Health Sciences (UHS) also observed the day.
They arranged a walk led by UHS Registrar Asad Zaheer. The participants held placards and banners carrying messages educating people about the virus. All offices and departments of the university remained open on Sunday.
The Human Genetics Department also arranged a seminar on dengue prevention and control. Dr Aslam Khan felicitated the session.
The registrar said the university campus was a dengue-free zone.
The Sir Ganga Ram Hospital medical superintendent said high dependency units had been established in the hospital. He said arrangements were in place to treat dengue fever patients. He said, however, currently no dengue patient was admitted to the hospital.
Adviser to the Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique said 13 dengue fever cases had been reported in the province this year. Five of these cases were reported in Lahore, he said.
He said indoor spray was being carried out in areas where dengue fever cases had been reported. He said secretaries of all departments had been asked to meet regularly to review dengue fever situation.
He said a small number of adult dengue mosquitoes had been reported and the Technical Advisory Committee had therefore not recommended fogging. He said excessive use of insecticides chemical was injurious to human health.
Professor of Epidemiology at Institute of Public Health (IPH) Farkhanda Kokab had said on Saturday high-risk districts included Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Multan, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur and Faisalabad.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, she stressed the need for removing rainwater early.
“Eggs of dengue mosquitoes are hatched in 10 days. It takes another 10 days for mosquitoes to carry the virus and transmit it to human beings. Dengue fever can breakout by the end of September or in early October if streets are not cleared of rainwater.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2014.
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