Going around in focals: Officials make chalky plans to avoid another dengue outbreak

Hospitals, schools to have focal persons for dengue, will be provided necessary equipment.

SWAT: A meeting was held at the district’s People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative office to discuss measures to prevent another dengue outbreak in the area. 

The meeting was presided over by Deputy Commissioner Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah.  Officials from health, education, agriculture, fisheries, environment and information departments, and medical officers from seven tehsils were also in attendance.

It was decided a focal person would be appointed in each hospital and school. The said person will be accessible through a special phone number and could be contacted for any information regarding dengue.

Talking to the attendees, Shah stressed news about the virus will only be issued from the district information office so any confusion – as such noted last year – can be avoided. He further directed the relevant departments to ensure all hospitals and dengue cells have the required equipment to deal with an outbreak.

“Beds, medicines, blood analysers and mosquito nets should be provided while municipal corporations should have fumigation sprays and pumps,” added Shah. The officials agreed to work out possible strategies to eliminate dengue eggs before they become larva and mosquitoes.

“It is our collective duty to tackle the menace,” said the deputy commissioner, adding every person, from social activists to students to volunteers, will be a part of the dengue campaign.

It was also decided that all health officials, including lady health workers, doctors, health technicians and nursing staff will be given compulsory training in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2014.