Punjab health teams arrive to help K-P
Four epidemiologists part of two mobile units
A large number of people are seen at KTH amid the dengue outbreak. PHOTO: PPI
PESHAWAR:
As Punjab government announced to extend support, health teams from Punjab have arrived to help Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government overcome the rising number of dengue virus cases.
The teams comprising two health mobile units will facilitate blood screening for dengue virus whereas at the same time will distribute anti-malaria medicines. Around four epidemiologists are part of the team being headed by Dr Muhammad Farrukh Sultan, head of the Punjab Dengue Control Programme.
11% of budget allocated for health in K-P
Dr Sultan, who is also additional director general health Punjab informed the media that surveillance teams will also arrive K-P adding they have brought chemicals, spraying machines to control dengue spread.
“This is not the job of a general physician but epidemiologists where at the same time, the general public needs to get awareness against dengue spread,” Dr Sultan told media. On the other hand, K-P health ministry tells the general people from the affected areas not to panic.
K-P health Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai thanked Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab health minister and chief secretary for extending support adding there was no need to engage in politics on such a grave issue as they there were many other issues for political point scoring.
“Whatever and wherever we need support, we will seek it but I assure the general public there is no need to panic since everything is under control,” Tarakai said while addressing the media during a news conference at the health secretariat on Saturday.
Viral Hepatitis: K-P health authorities for mandatory blood screening
According to details, a total of 5,078 cases were screened for dengue virus among which some 862 were found positive with 75 during last 24 hours alone. 374 people were admitted with majority at Khyber Teaching Hospital where some 142 were still admitted and the rest discharged from the facility. Five persons have so far died due to the deadly virus.
Tarakai informed the media persons that a committee with its members from Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar, health department and town municipal administration will be reporting to the deputy commissioner Peshawar the overall situation.
He stated that all were in action and were involved to overcome the issue adding that mobile vans with doctors, health department staff members to carry out dengue tests will be on ground besides awareness campaigns were being carried out in the affected areas.
While responding to PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam’s visit to KTH, Tarakai stated Muqam should ensure uninterrupted power supply so that people slept inside rooms and not under open sky adding there were several other issues for political scoring.
Earlier Muqam visited KTH and stated that Punjab government has assured sending health teams where at the same time announced Rs0.2million for the deceased families on behalf of Punjab government. Muqam stated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan should spare time and visit Dengue affected areas.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th, 2017.
As Punjab government announced to extend support, health teams from Punjab have arrived to help Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government overcome the rising number of dengue virus cases.
The teams comprising two health mobile units will facilitate blood screening for dengue virus whereas at the same time will distribute anti-malaria medicines. Around four epidemiologists are part of the team being headed by Dr Muhammad Farrukh Sultan, head of the Punjab Dengue Control Programme.
11% of budget allocated for health in K-P
Dr Sultan, who is also additional director general health Punjab informed the media that surveillance teams will also arrive K-P adding they have brought chemicals, spraying machines to control dengue spread.
“This is not the job of a general physician but epidemiologists where at the same time, the general public needs to get awareness against dengue spread,” Dr Sultan told media. On the other hand, K-P health ministry tells the general people from the affected areas not to panic.
K-P health Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai thanked Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab health minister and chief secretary for extending support adding there was no need to engage in politics on such a grave issue as they there were many other issues for political point scoring.
“Whatever and wherever we need support, we will seek it but I assure the general public there is no need to panic since everything is under control,” Tarakai said while addressing the media during a news conference at the health secretariat on Saturday.
Viral Hepatitis: K-P health authorities for mandatory blood screening
According to details, a total of 5,078 cases were screened for dengue virus among which some 862 were found positive with 75 during last 24 hours alone. 374 people were admitted with majority at Khyber Teaching Hospital where some 142 were still admitted and the rest discharged from the facility. Five persons have so far died due to the deadly virus.
Tarakai informed the media persons that a committee with its members from Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar, health department and town municipal administration will be reporting to the deputy commissioner Peshawar the overall situation.
He stated that all were in action and were involved to overcome the issue adding that mobile vans with doctors, health department staff members to carry out dengue tests will be on ground besides awareness campaigns were being carried out in the affected areas.
While responding to PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam’s visit to KTH, Tarakai stated Muqam should ensure uninterrupted power supply so that people slept inside rooms and not under open sky adding there were several other issues for political scoring.
Earlier Muqam visited KTH and stated that Punjab government has assured sending health teams where at the same time announced Rs0.2million for the deceased families on behalf of Punjab government. Muqam stated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan should spare time and visit Dengue affected areas.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th, 2017.