Health department gets Rs10 million

Cost for antigen test, platelet bags to be met by the government.

KARACHI: Finally realising the extent of Dengue cases, the provincial government has handed over Rs10 million to the health ministry to prevent and control the spread of the deadly virus.

Under the new plan, the cost of the Rapid Kit Antigen test, which is around Rs600, that detects the virus within six hours, will now be met by the ministry.

Also, the required mega platelet bags, each costing around Rs10,000, will be provided for by the ministry after certain protocols are met.

These include visiting a doctor for a proper checkup followed by testing positive for the Dengue virus and then receiving a prescription for mega platelets.

Most cases do not require blood transfusions, Ahmed said, and therefore just one bag per patient per day will be given unless there is bleeding in which case bags will be provided as per doctor’s instructions.

These facilities are available in government hospitals and so far, two private hospitals, Hussaini Blood Bank and the National Institute of Blood Diseases (NIBD).

According to the ministry data, 1,688 cases of dengue have been reported so far. Out of these, 143 were given mega platelets. Sixteen of them have died.

Speaking to journalists at the Sindh Secretariat after a meeting with the concerned departments on dengue control, Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed also announced the expansion of the Dengue Surveillance Cell (DSC), which will commence from Wednesday.

Extra measures taken by the department include the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority working with the DSC to create awareness, conduct tests and transfusions.

Ahmed appealed to private hospitals to cooperate with the ministry and to stop ‘hiding their Dengue statistics’. “If we don’t have accurate data, how will we tackle the issue effectively?” he asked.

Help lines have been set up at Civil Hospital Karachi and people can call at 021-99215970 and 021-99215740 (extension 6001) to register any complaints on Dengue-related problems.

Complaints can also be made by sending text messages to 0341-2349252.

Dr Suresh Kumar was made in-charge of the DSC while Dr Zahid Ansari will be dealing with blood transfusions. DSC will now be coordinating with Hussaini Blood Bank and NIBD, where figures reveal patients need around 100 mega platelet bags per day.

According to the World Health Organisation criteria, mega platelets need to be provided to patients with a platelet count below 20,000. Ahmed said any one who refused to provide the needed help or treatment for dengue would be dealt with.

The health minister strongly advised against self medicating or taking un-prescribed antibiotics, which may prove fatal. He also said more aggressive fumigation plans will be carried out, however residents have to take precautions as well.

This includes wearing long sleeved clothes, applying mosquito repellent on exposed skin and ensuring there is no standing water in or around their homes.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Sindh chief minister denied that a summary was previously provided by the health minister regarding dengue.

The statement said no funds had been allocated before since there was no provision in the annual budget for dengue.

According to the spokesperson, the summary was sent late on Sunday night and was immediately approved and reverted back to the health ministry.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2010.