For accurate dengue statistics, public and private practitioners need to coordinate
Dengue focal person insists everything is under control.
Parents wait by the bedside as their dengue infected son receives treatment at the isolation ward at the Civil Hospital in Hyderabad on September 9, 2013. PHOTO: SHAHID ALI/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Since there is no coordination between private and public medical practitioners, there is no way of knowing how many people suffer from dengue in the province.
The general secretary of the Sindh Private Hospitals and Clinics Welfare Association, Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, admitted the number of patients is most likely twice that of reports. “There isn’t any mechanism of coordination between public and private practitioners by the government,” he said. “I believe that without the proper arrangements, we cannot handle this serious issue easily.”
Since July, the number of dengue patients in Sindh has reached an alarming level. According to the Dengue Surveillance Cell, a total of 1,079 cases have been found in Sindh, of which 1,023 were in Karachi and 56 in the rest of the province. On Monday alone, 31 new cases were reported. Health experts believed that the number of patients is almost double especially in rural areas, including the coastal belt, but there are no studies to prove that.
Primary healthcare is dealt with primarily by private practitioners, Dr Shoro pointed out. “There is a huge gap, which should be filled, at least, when there is an emergency.”
Awareness campaign
Meanwhile, the government has launched a campaign in schools in districts Central and Malir to address health-related issues starting Monday. “School-age children are our ambassadors and this campaign will help us to create public awareness,” said Health EDO Zaffar Ejaz. Health experts will teach students about dengue while pamphlets will be distrusted among the teachers, who will also be directed to get tests from students on basic diseases.
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has identified the city’s 10 towns, including North Karachi, North Nazimabad, Orangi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Saddar, Jamshed and Baldia towns, where dengue patients’ ratio has highly increased. The KMC officials had been directed by health authorities to ensure fumigation sprays are carried twice a day.
The minister for both local government and health, Owais Muzaffar has directed the KMC and the health department to work together. “All arrangements regarding curative resection are satisfactory,” claimed Dr Ejaz, but he observed that not concrete measures were taken about identifying breeding locations. “The concerns of the general public on the alarming rise in numbers are genuine.” Dr Ejaz assured that it is not too late. “It is right time to take action because the dengue season will continue till November,” he said.
On the other hand, the KMC faces financial issues, including manpower, to tackle the spread of the disease efficiently. The Abbasi Shaheed Hospital is the only hospital under the KMC where dengue patients could be admitted but a separate ward has yet to be set up. “I have directed hospital authorities to set up a ward for dengue patients,” said Muhammad Ali Abbasi, the senior director medical services.
Sharing the ratio of dengue patients at the hospital, Abbasi said that 149 cases were reported till September 7. “Eight to nine dengue patients visit the hospital every day,” he added.
Fumigation
The health department, along with the KMC, has started a special drive against dengue, including fumigation in targeted areas. “The KMC is doing its job which they have to do and we are just helping them,” explained Dr Ejaz.
Sources from the KMC and the health department informed The Express Tribune that the municipal authorities have yet to start the enhanced spray drive, the awareness campaign and remove garbage and stagnant water.
Nevertheless, for dengue focal person Dr Shakeel Aamir Mullick everything is under control. “We are not out of stock of anything,” he said. “This is the peak season and people have to take their own efforts at homes.” He did say, however, that the number of dengue patients will go high in the coming days.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2013.
Since there is no coordination between private and public medical practitioners, there is no way of knowing how many people suffer from dengue in the province.
The general secretary of the Sindh Private Hospitals and Clinics Welfare Association, Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, admitted the number of patients is most likely twice that of reports. “There isn’t any mechanism of coordination between public and private practitioners by the government,” he said. “I believe that without the proper arrangements, we cannot handle this serious issue easily.”
Since July, the number of dengue patients in Sindh has reached an alarming level. According to the Dengue Surveillance Cell, a total of 1,079 cases have been found in Sindh, of which 1,023 were in Karachi and 56 in the rest of the province. On Monday alone, 31 new cases were reported. Health experts believed that the number of patients is almost double especially in rural areas, including the coastal belt, but there are no studies to prove that.
Primary healthcare is dealt with primarily by private practitioners, Dr Shoro pointed out. “There is a huge gap, which should be filled, at least, when there is an emergency.”
Awareness campaign
Meanwhile, the government has launched a campaign in schools in districts Central and Malir to address health-related issues starting Monday. “School-age children are our ambassadors and this campaign will help us to create public awareness,” said Health EDO Zaffar Ejaz. Health experts will teach students about dengue while pamphlets will be distrusted among the teachers, who will also be directed to get tests from students on basic diseases.
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has identified the city’s 10 towns, including North Karachi, North Nazimabad, Orangi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Saddar, Jamshed and Baldia towns, where dengue patients’ ratio has highly increased. The KMC officials had been directed by health authorities to ensure fumigation sprays are carried twice a day.
The minister for both local government and health, Owais Muzaffar has directed the KMC and the health department to work together. “All arrangements regarding curative resection are satisfactory,” claimed Dr Ejaz, but he observed that not concrete measures were taken about identifying breeding locations. “The concerns of the general public on the alarming rise in numbers are genuine.” Dr Ejaz assured that it is not too late. “It is right time to take action because the dengue season will continue till November,” he said.
On the other hand, the KMC faces financial issues, including manpower, to tackle the spread of the disease efficiently. The Abbasi Shaheed Hospital is the only hospital under the KMC where dengue patients could be admitted but a separate ward has yet to be set up. “I have directed hospital authorities to set up a ward for dengue patients,” said Muhammad Ali Abbasi, the senior director medical services.
Sharing the ratio of dengue patients at the hospital, Abbasi said that 149 cases were reported till September 7. “Eight to nine dengue patients visit the hospital every day,” he added.
Fumigation
The health department, along with the KMC, has started a special drive against dengue, including fumigation in targeted areas. “The KMC is doing its job which they have to do and we are just helping them,” explained Dr Ejaz.
Sources from the KMC and the health department informed The Express Tribune that the municipal authorities have yet to start the enhanced spray drive, the awareness campaign and remove garbage and stagnant water.
Nevertheless, for dengue focal person Dr Shakeel Aamir Mullick everything is under control. “We are not out of stock of anything,” he said. “This is the peak season and people have to take their own efforts at homes.” He did say, however, that the number of dengue patients will go high in the coming days.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2013.