Health dept issues new SoPs as dengue cases rise

Tells BHUs, hospitals to start checking people daily for the virus

RAWALPINDI: The number of dengue patients has increased to 22 in Punjab including Rawalpindi, prompting city administration to issue new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for complete control of dengue.

Under the new SOP, 100 basic health units will daily check five patients suspected of having dengue virus, while each of the Tehsil Headquarter Hospital, District Headquarter Hospital, dispensaries and the government hospitals will diagnose 10 patients per day.

Action will be taken against the head of the hospital or the Basic Health Unit that does not give a daily report after taking tests. If any patient is found to have the dengue virus, then a thorough search will be conducted of their home and surroundings, where dengue spray will be used at every corner to terminate the virus.

According to new SOPs, all departments will have to do an awareness event every Thursday.

The Environment Department has been strictly ordered to conduct a search in the rubbish bins and Municipal Corporation to conduct a search in under construction buildings.

Seven dengue patients were admitted in hospital in Lahore and Faisalabad respectively, while in one case has been noted in Attock, one factory worker at Morgah factory was also admitted in PIMS hospital after he tested positive for dengue. Pims denied that he was a patient of Rawalpindi, while Islamabad District Health Association declared him as being patient of Rawalpindi.

Report of dengue patient in Rawalpindi has created panic among the health officials, while Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa has also taken serious notice of poor arrangements against the viral disease and advised the authorities to expedite the search for dengue larva and initiate door-to-door awareness campaigns.

After a dengue case surfaced in Morgah, the district authorities started taking action for anti-mosquito sprays in various neighbourhoods. In addition, special wards with dedicated staff have been set up in all three government hospitals of the city including Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto General Hospital and District Headquarter Hospital. From now on, dengue patients will be shifted to allied hospitals only.

Awareness drive

Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) and Albayrak organised cleanliness awareness camp outside the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) office, Kahuta to raise awareness about prevalence, treatment and prevention of dengue here on Friday.

The activity was meant to reach out to a maximum number of people, in order to educate the general public about the precautionary measures for dengue to get rid of it.

A walk was also arranged from Ac office to Matore Chowk where Assistant Commissioner (AC), Usman Gohar said that administration have rolled up their sleeves to provide extraordinary sanitation services to citizens and in that regard, everyone will be on their toes to perform. Holding such activities will help sensitize people to avoid littering and maintain cleanliness.

On the occasion, the communications teams also briefed the general public that we have to adopt cleanliness to fight against this fever. Teams also distributed waste bags and leaflets to highlight the importance of cleanliness and prevention of dengue.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2019.