Seasonal gripe: ‘Effective vector surveillance needed to end dengue virus threat’

Commissioner says performance of vector surveillance teams would be monitored via geo-tags

BAHAWALPUR: Commissioner Saqib Zafar said on Wednesday that effective vector surveillance was required to eliminate the threat of a dengue fever outbreak in Bahawalpur division. He said 1,027 indoor and 251 outdoor vector surveillance teams were working in 348 union councils in the three districts of Bahawalpur division.

The performance of the teams would be monitored through geo tagging, he said.

The commissioner was speaking to Bahawalpur DCO Ehtisham Anwar Mahaar, Public Relations Director Rana Ajaz Mahmood, the health services director, Health EDO Shahid Khaliq and Additional Commissioner Saqib Ali Ateel at his office. DCOs of Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan joined the meeting via video-link.  The participants discussed arrangements regarding the anti-dengue mosquito drive by various departments in Bahawalpur division.

The health services director said 322 beds had been reserved in public and private hospitals to extend medical cover to dengue fever patients. These include: 152 beds in Bahawalpur district; 64 beds in Bahawalnagar district and 106 beds in Rahim Yar Khan district.

He said 412 vector surveillance teams would work in 108 union councils in Bahawalpur, 143 teams in 122 union councils in Rahim Yar Khan and 472 teams in 118 union councils in Bahawalnagar.

The Bahawalpur health services director said the Health Department and the TMA teams had 136 fogging machines, 405 spray machines and 45 de-watering sets in their inventory.

The commissioner directed all divisional and district officers to shore up their efforts to ensure complete elimination of dengue mosquitoes in Bahawalpur division. “All equipment must be in excellent condition. The requisite stock of medicine should be ensured and sufficient personnel should be available to ensure an effective anti-dengue mosquito drive,” said the commissioner. He told officers to put forward requests for additional machinery, medicines and personnel to their respective higher authorities without delay.

The commissioner directed the DCOs to devise a comprehensive mechanism to verify the performance reports of vector surveillance and inspection teams.

The commissioner asked health authorities to complete fogging and spraying mosquito larvicide at schools and colleges at least one week before they re-open after the summer vacations.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2016.