All private labs in Sindh told to submit dengue data

Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho has said that the provincial health department is only getting dengue data from government hospitals due to which there is room for error in actual cases of the virus.

Expressing her views during a press conference at EPI Hall in Karachi on Thursday along with Dr Palitha Gunarathana Mahipala of World Health Organisation, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho said that in order to ensure accuracy, all private laboratories have been directed to submit dengue data through the Sindh Healthcare Commission. The private laboratories not complying with the directions will be sealed, she said.

The presser also highlighted the progress regarding distribution of flood relief supplies and equipment including rapid diagnostic kits for dengue and malaria as well as hygiene kits for women. As of now, 42,000 dengue rapid diagnostic kits, 13,500 malaria rapid diagnostic kits and 20,000 dignity kits for women have been provided.

Also read: Outbreak of dengue, malaria hits Karachi

The meeting was informed that two water filtration plants will be installed at the flood affected areas with each plant having the capacity to filter 10,000 liters of water per day. WHO has made donations valuing over Rs40 million including supplies and equipment for Sindh.

Talking to media, Dr Azra assured that all the relief items have been sealed to ensure transparency throughout the phase of distribution. There is no report of theft of the aid items or their sales in the general or black market, she said, encouraging the journalists to report any such incident that they notice.

Dr Mahipala said that WHO wanted to provide 12 boats for the people trapped in the flood. He said that 20 vehicles have already been deployed and are being used as mobile health units and seven more such vehicles will be provided immediately.