The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has decided to revise its Dengue Action Plan and introduce some much-needed changes after 20,000 infections with 18 deaths were reported from across the province due to the mosquito-borne disease.
As per the new plan, doctors, lady health workers and paramedics will be trained to diagnose and treat the disease which has been occurring almost on a yearly basis in the province for the past six to seven years.
Officials told The Express Tribune that work has initiated on a new action plan formally and the government has already shown its willingness to fund it.
“Around 38 entomologists have been recruited in the province which enabled the reduction in the number of cases as well as deaths from the disease,” an official said, adding that entomologists were required for the tribal districts.
“As per the new PC-1, 12 entomologists would be recruited who would be posted at the tribal districts as these districts have been declared high-risk areas,” he added.
As per the official records, 1,173 were reported in tribal districts this year despite the fact that local residents highly contradict the official figures.
As per the official record, this year more than 20,000 cases were reported in which 2,081 were hospitalised and 18 deaths were also reported.
Seven districts across the province remained at high risk as in Peshawar, 9,444 cases were reported which makes almost 50 per cent of the total officially reported cases.
From Mardan 4,109 cases were reported, Haripur 1,173 cases, Nowshera 932 cases, Kohat 910 cases, Bannu 904 cases and Dir Lower 877 cases.
“Doctors and other staff will also be properly trained under the new plan in order to enable them to diagnose and treat the deadly virus in a better way,” the official maintained.
“The Lady Health Workers (LHW) as well as the sanitation staff have also been included in the training to enable them to better detect the larva of mosquitos and improve hygiene,” he noted.
The PC-I will soon be sent to the government for approval.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2022.
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