25-bed ward opens doors to dengue patients in Chak Shahzad

Facility at Federal General Hospital will cater to patients from capital’s suburbs

ISLAMABAD: A 25-bed special dengue ward has been inaugurated at Federal General Hospital Islamabad in Chakshahzad to handle dengue patients in the outskirts of Islamabad, said Special Assistant to PM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza.

He said this ward was in addition to dengue wards already working in PIMS and FG Polyclinic hospitals of the federal capital.

The SAPM went round the dengue ward at Federal General Hospital and gave instructions to staff to work with the highest level of dedication and commitment.

He was informed that 80 per cent work of the new Out-Patient Department (OPD) of the hospital was complete. However, work has stopped because PWD could not spare the contractor, who was busy with some other development project.

He said Islamabad hospitals were catering to dengue cases including those from Rawalpindi. In this context, he added that he was in touch with Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid. “We are committed to effective prevention and treatment of the disease,” SAPM said.

The Dengue Control Cell is working round the clock and is in continuous liaison with all concerned departments, public and private hospitals, civic bodies, DMA and IMC. Islamabad Administration regularly holds meetings to review the situation and take immediate measures required. With coordinated concerted efforts the situation is improving, Mirza said.

He said the preventive campaign is underway including Identifying and destroying mosquito breeding sites, covering open drinking containers, removal of tyres, shoppers, plastic bottles and other wastes from roofs, draining water from room coolers and trays of refrigerators.

Special teams of sanitary inspectors, malaria supervisors and lady health workers are in the field for the purpose. Social mobilisation campaign has been launched through Lady Health Workers to create awareness amongst the local communities to educate them on prevention against dengue and eliminating dengue vector breeding sites.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2019.