CM orders action to contain malaria outbreak

Health dept sets up wards for disease at all govt hospitals

KARACHI:

Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (Retd) Maqbool Baqir, while taking notice of increasing malaria cases across the province here on Sunday, directed the Health Department and Local Government (LG) Department to take necessary measures to control the disease in a week.

He said that most of the cases were being reported from Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Larkana and Sukkur divisions.

The interim CM directed the Health Department to launch a campaign against the elimination of malaria. Baqar also directed to make arrangements for the availability of malaria drugs and wards in all government hospitals.

He said that the LG department should start spraying mosquito killers in their respective areas. He further said that the Solid Waste Management Board should improve sanitation.

Malaria wards

Following the directives of the Caretaker Sindh Health Minister Dr Saad Khalid Niaz, the Sindh Health Department is taking proactive measures to combat malaria in the province.

Under the leadership of Dr Niaz, a meeting of the Malaria Control Programme was convened earlier in the week. As per the instructions of the minister, specialised malaria wards are to be established in all hospitals across Sindh, operating with medical staff from 9am to 8pm.

The minister also tasked the Deputy DG Health Department with conducting a survey of the Thatta district to assess the situation. He also emphasised the need to activate drug inspectors to ensure the availability of medicines, investigating any potential supply delays.

Expressing deep condolences for any loss of life due to malaria, he called for the formation of a dedicated steering committee for malaria prevention and control.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2023.