Outsmarting mosquitoes: ‘Civic agency prevailing in fight against dengue’
CDA claims timely fumigation, execution of plans preventing outbreak.
ISLAMABAD:
Timely fumigation and execution of plans has prevented a dengue outbreak in the capital. With an active taskforce and dedicated bunch of officials, the vector would be kept in check. These were the words of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi on Saturday.
With optimism and assurance, the chairman, flanked by CDA Health Director Dr Hassan Urooj and other officials of the civic body conducted a press conference on preparedness against the dangerous aedes mosquito, which has been causing illnesses in the northern part of the country.
Elahi said that cases of dengue virus in capital city are very low in number due to fumigation in March this year, which has played crucial role in preventing the breeding of mosquitoes in the city.
Dr Hassan said that nine dengue patients have been admitted to CDA Hospital, while five have already been discharged. The condition of rest is also safe. He added that a special anti-dengue unit has been established at CDA Hospital to monitor the situation.
Dr Urooj added that the city has been divided into different zones and 30 teams have been deployed for round-the-clock fumigation in each part of the city.
The officials informed that a “rigorous operation” targeting slums, drains and green belts was being conducted. This would continue till the end of the season, said the doctor. Special teams from the civic agency will soon start spraying in schools and other offices as well.
The chairman added that all necessary resources have been diverted to cope with the situation. He said that CDA has imported anti-dengue chemicals from Germany which are sufficient for the coming three to four months. “The chemicals have been imported on the recommendation of the World Health Organisation and its quality was checked by the Pakistan Quality Assurance, Lahore,” he added.
Citizens were also directed to adopt pre-emptive measures for their own safety. “We are doing whatever we can, but the citizens should also be vigilant, as it is our collective responsibility to counter this threat,” said Dr Urooj.
“Around 90 percent of the dengue patients automatically recover but five per cent need serious attention,” he added.
Sri Lankan experts to prepare local doctors
A team of experts from Sri Lanka is likely to visit Rawalpindi on September 22 to assess the prevalence of the dengue in the city and propose preventive and remedial measures to the health department and district government for tackling the virus.
Sources in the health department said the team would visit the city and gauge the diagnostic facilities at Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarter Hospital.
So far, 34 confirmed cases of dengue have been reported from the city and a majority of the patients were discharged from the hospitals after treatment. A large chunk of the confirm cases, 24, were from Rawalpindi areas, with another seven from Chakwal and three from Attock.
Some 412 suspected cases have so far been reported from different areas of Rawalpindi district, including 33 suspects from Chakwal, 16 from Attock and five from Jehlum areas.
With additional reporting by Mudassir Raja
Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2011.
Timely fumigation and execution of plans has prevented a dengue outbreak in the capital. With an active taskforce and dedicated bunch of officials, the vector would be kept in check. These were the words of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi on Saturday.
With optimism and assurance, the chairman, flanked by CDA Health Director Dr Hassan Urooj and other officials of the civic body conducted a press conference on preparedness against the dangerous aedes mosquito, which has been causing illnesses in the northern part of the country.
Elahi said that cases of dengue virus in capital city are very low in number due to fumigation in March this year, which has played crucial role in preventing the breeding of mosquitoes in the city.
Dr Hassan said that nine dengue patients have been admitted to CDA Hospital, while five have already been discharged. The condition of rest is also safe. He added that a special anti-dengue unit has been established at CDA Hospital to monitor the situation.
Dr Urooj added that the city has been divided into different zones and 30 teams have been deployed for round-the-clock fumigation in each part of the city.
The officials informed that a “rigorous operation” targeting slums, drains and green belts was being conducted. This would continue till the end of the season, said the doctor. Special teams from the civic agency will soon start spraying in schools and other offices as well.
The chairman added that all necessary resources have been diverted to cope with the situation. He said that CDA has imported anti-dengue chemicals from Germany which are sufficient for the coming three to four months. “The chemicals have been imported on the recommendation of the World Health Organisation and its quality was checked by the Pakistan Quality Assurance, Lahore,” he added.
Citizens were also directed to adopt pre-emptive measures for their own safety. “We are doing whatever we can, but the citizens should also be vigilant, as it is our collective responsibility to counter this threat,” said Dr Urooj.
“Around 90 percent of the dengue patients automatically recover but five per cent need serious attention,” he added.
Sri Lankan experts to prepare local doctors
A team of experts from Sri Lanka is likely to visit Rawalpindi on September 22 to assess the prevalence of the dengue in the city and propose preventive and remedial measures to the health department and district government for tackling the virus.
Sources in the health department said the team would visit the city and gauge the diagnostic facilities at Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarter Hospital.
So far, 34 confirmed cases of dengue have been reported from the city and a majority of the patients were discharged from the hospitals after treatment. A large chunk of the confirm cases, 24, were from Rawalpindi areas, with another seven from Chakwal and three from Attock.
Some 412 suspected cases have so far been reported from different areas of Rawalpindi district, including 33 suspects from Chakwal, 16 from Attock and five from Jehlum areas.
With additional reporting by Mudassir Raja
Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2011.