Doctors to maintain computer records of dengue patients for improved dengue case response. PHOTO: FILE
Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique said on Friday the government would continue to provide all possible resources to control HIV/AIDS. AIDS patients in the Punjab would be provided diagnostic and medical facilities and the World Health Organisation’s recommendations in this regard will be implemented, he said.
Rafique was presiding over the concluding session of a two-day consultative meeting organised by the Punjab AIDS Control Programme and World Health Organisation on Friday. The meeting was attended by WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional office Regional HIV/AIDS Advisor Gabriele Riedner, HIV/AIDS Technical Officer Joumana George Hermez, EMRO HIV/AIDS National Professional Officer Quiad Saeed, International Consultant Russell Armstrong, DGHS Zahid Pervaiz and AIDS Control Programme Project Director Salman Shahid. Several representatives from civil society and preventive programmes also attended the meeting.
The WHO conducted an analysis of the HIV/AIDS treatment programme in the Punjab. Several gaps and challenges were identified. The report acknowledged the efforts [preventive, diagnostic and treatment services] of the Health Department and the Punjab AIDS Control Programme. Nine core interventions were discussed in detail.
The recommendations included scaling up preventive services, providing HIV testing and counselling, care and support and drug dependence treatment services. The importance of awareness and advocacy campaigns was also emphasised.
The WHO gifted two mobile CD4 testing machines worth Rs3 million to the Punjab AIDS Control Programme. CD4 tests are crucial for the initial diagnosis of HIV. The machines will be used to provide testing services at the doorsteps of AIDS patients in south Punjab and prisoners in the Punjab.
Residential data of dengue patients
Rafique also directed doctors to maintain computer records of residential addresses of dengue patients to improve dengue case response.
A spokesman of Health Department said the decision was taken in a meeting on Thursday. Additional Director General Epidemic Prevention and Control (EPSC) Jaffar Ilyas, CDC Director Health Ahmad Afifi, PITB officers, focal persons on dengue at teaching hospitals and data entry operators attended the meeting. Participants were given directions on data entry, timely reporting and other issues.
Rafique said technical and professional people associated with the prevention and treatment of dengue should perform their responsibilities with commitment and dedication. He also said policy makers should not be given field work so that health sectors are not ignored. He also stressed the need for close liaison between policy makers and field workers.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2014.
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