Casualties rise: Another woman dies of dengue, death toll reaches 13

Health minister visits the hospital’s dengue cell, declares medical staff satisfactory.

MINGORA:

The death of a woman on Sunday has taken the official dengue death toll to 13 on Sunday. Till Saturday, unofficial figures placed the number of dengue patients who had died at 23.

Minister for Health Shaukat Yousafzai, who visited Saidu Sharif Teaching hospital’s (STH) dengue cell on Sunday, observed the performance of the medical staff during the dengue outbreak has been satisfactory.

“All kinds of diagnostic tests and treatment for dengue fever are being provided free of charge. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has provided Rs200 million to the health department and will ensure free treatment in all hospitals in K-P,” he said.

Criticising the role of the opposition in the K-P Assembly, Yousafzai said the opposition’s vocal censure was for no good reason. “Out of Rs200 million, Rs40 million has already been issued for the hospitals of Swat. Additionally, Rs50 million has been allocated for dengue patients.”

Around 500 doctors, 675 women nursing staff and 600 paramedical workers have also been employed, added the health minister.

“The provincial government is sincerely working day and night to tackle the dengue outbreak.”

The dengue epidemic is a natural calamity, and, Yousafzai hoped, the worst of it would be over soon.

Talks with TTP

Peace talks with the Taliban have been delayed by the federal government, “and were part of Imran Khan’s agenda; he has always emphasised the importance of engaging them in talks and not in war. The decision of withdrawal of troops from district Shangla, Buner and Swat is final,” said the health minister. There was a time when there was a need for security forces, however, with normalcy prevailing, their presence is not needed any more, he added.

Impact of dengue

According to STH spokesperson Dr Wasil, 113 new patients diagnosed with dengue were admitted to the hospital. After taking into account patients who were discharged between Saturday and Sunday, the STH is administering treatment to at least 2,252 patients. “Presently, 293 patients are hospitalised. This includes 15 children, 186 male and 92 female patients. Thirteen patients are in the intensive care unit,” said Dr Wisal.

Unofficial data puts the number of dengue patients at 5,000 in the district.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2013.