Govt braces for dengue challenge
Punjab health department is focusing on arrangements to curb dengue fever despite several cases of the disease having been reported in the province in recent months.
At least 53 confirmed dengue cases have been recorded in Punjab during the past six months, including 23 in Lahore. However, managements of the hospitals in the province have not finalised arrangements to tackle the disease, while dengue counters set up for the purpose are not functioning in several health facilities.
According to health experts, while Punjab government is struggling to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, the threat of dengue fever also needs the attention of the department.
Dengue has been stalking the country since 2011, inflicting a considerable number of people every year and claiming several lives.
Punjab was once the epicentre of dengue disease in the country and the provincial health department prepared a plan every year to counter its threat.
However, adequate arrangements have not been made by the health department this year to fight dengue in coming months.
The season of monsoon rains is starting soon in the province, which is crucial regarding dengue.
During the past few days, especially after rain in many cities of Punjab, including Lahore, dengue larva was found in several areas.
One patient suffering from dengue fever was confirmed by the health department in Lahore during the past 24 hours, while another case was reported in Jhang district.
Read Only 2 dengue patients reported in Pindi: official
According to sources in Punjab health department, at least 549 places where dengue larva was present were found in Lahore and 746 in other districts.
The department confirmed that dengue larva was found during surveillance and also that patients suffering from the fever were coming to hospitals.
"At least 53 patients of dengue fever have been confirmed in Punjab this year, while two are currently admitted to hospitals. In Lahore, 23 patients of dengue came to hospitals and 22 of them have recovered,” Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department spokesman Sayed Hamad Raza told The Express Tribune.
“Punjab health department is making efforts to counter dengue and we are carrying out surveillance across the province in this regard. In last 24 hours, we checked 314, 482 indoor and 87,352 outdoor places. Dengue larva was found at a number of places and we exterminated it,” he added.
The spokesman said the surveillance was continuing in all big cities, including Lahore.
When contacted, Mayo Hospital’s Senior Medical Officer Dr Salman Kazmi said,"Punjab health department should launch a public awareness campaign for precautionary measures against dengue.”
He said the dengue surveillance campaign was very important and the government should focus on it. Special attention should be given to tyre shops, paan shops and government schools.
The doctor said the coming rainy season was very sensitive in connection with the spread of dengue and the government should prepare before its start.
“The role of the people is also important and they should avoid accumulation of water around their residences and workplaces. Past experience shows that cleanliness in homes and localities proved to be most important in stopping the spread of dengue,” Dr Kazmi added.
The department’s spokesman said Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid had issued instructions to start a dengue awareness campaign and also discussed a strategy in this regard with the senior officials.
He said the minister had asked all officials concerned of the department to increase surveillance of indoor spots and also launch an awareness campaign in schools.
The divisional commissioners had been asked to take action against officials showing less interest in the anti-dengue campaign, the spokesperson added.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2021.