Combatting dengue: Rs40b approved to prevent, control disease

Sindh plans to hire experts from Sri Lanka.

KARACHI: The Sindh government has approved Rs40 million for the Dengue Prevention and Control Programme as health experts fear that dengue cases will multiply this year, The Express Tribune learnt on Thursday.

The provincial government on the recommendation and advice of the health officials has also decided to hire experts from Sri Lanka before the dengue breakout in Sindh, especially in Karachi and coastal belt, which is expected soon after the monsoon.

Sources said that the major portion of the allocated budget would be spent on preventive measures, including community training programme and spray campaign.

“Training of communities is very essential and without the involvement of people, we can’t control dengue and overcome the situation easily,” said Dr M Shakeel Mullick, the focal person of the Sindh Dengue Surveillance Cell.

Dr Mullick didn’t, however,  confirm the provincial government’s decision to hire Sri Lankan experts, justifying that dengue was spreading in the region —  all the way from India to Indonesia.

Earlier when dengue cases were increasing, top health officials had claimed that all preventive measures were being taken and that the situation would be different in 2014.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2014.