Precautionary measures: Punjab prepares to deal with possible dengue fever outbreak

Anti-Dengue Day will be observed across the province on July 23

DERA GHAZI KHAN/ FAISALABAD/ SARGODHA: District administrations across the province have started preparations for an anti-dengue mosquito campaign ahead of a province-wide Anti-Dengue [mosquito] Day scheduled for July 23.

Dera Ghazi Khan DCO Nadeemur Rehman held a meeting at his office where he issued instructions regarding an awareness campaign. Anti-dengue mosquito larvicide will be sprayed at schools and colleges, he said. Basic health counters will be set up at public hospitals and several awareness walks and seminars will be organised in the days leading up to July 23, the DCO said.

Banners carrying awareness messages will be displayed at public spots and pamphlets carrying information on how to prevent dengue fever will be distributed. “We will also look into the possibility of holding awareness sessions at mosques,” Rehman said.

He issued instructions regarding prompt drainage of rainwater during monsoon season. “The Health and Education Departments and tehsil municipal authorities will work together on the campaign,” the DCO said.

He said surveys to check for dengue mosquito larvae would be conducted at tire shops, petrol pumps, CNG stations, housing societies, industrial institutions, workshops, plant nurseries, scrapyards and graveyards. He said contractors and construction companies should make sure that no water was left standing at construction sites. “Strict action will be taken in case of non-compliance,” he warned.

Preparedness

Sargodha District Headquarters Teaching Hospital has completed arrangements to deal with a possible dengue virus outbreak during monsoon season, DHQ Spokesperson Tariq Hassan said on Monday.

All tehsil municipal administrators (TMAs) have been asked to participate actively in the awareness campaign, he said.   Dr Hassan said people are advised to spray larvacide at their homes to kill any dengue mosquito larvae there. He said the district had 167 union councils where 501 teams were working on various anti-dengue fever efforts.

“The DHQ Hospital has established a dengue ward comprising 12 beds for men and eight beds for women. A four-bed ward has also been set up for intensive care of dengue patients,” he said.

Isolation wards

The Faisalabad DCO has directed the Health Department to set up isolation wards at public hospitals and at Basic Health Units (BHUs) for treatment of dengue fever patients.

A spokesperson of the district administration said on Monday that they had completed arrangements for prevention of dengue mosquito breeding in the district during rainy season. He said surveillance teams had been constituted to identify the dengue larva hotspots where immediate action was required.

He said isolation wards had been established as a precautionary measure. “All hospitals must have the capacity to provide prompt treatment to dengue fever patients,” the spokesperson said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2016.