Eternal vigilance: Dengue surveillance to continue during holidays

Chief minister’s adviser says action will be taken against management of parks, buildings if dengue larvae detected.

LAHORE:

Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique said on Saturday appropriate action should be taken against the management of public parks and government buildings if dengue larvae were detected there.

The adviser chaired a meeting of deputy district officers and entomologists from Lahore to review the dengue fever situation. The meeting discussed the action plan to be adopted against dengue mosquitoes during Eid holidays.

Rafique said the possibility of dengue fever outbreak increased during monsoon. “Health official should expedite efforts to prevent the virus outbreak. They should take steps to eliminate breeding sites of dengue mosquito larvae during the rainy season,” he said.

The adviser told officials citizens should be advised to drain water from desert coolers during monsoon to avoid breeding of dengue mosquitoes.

He directed Health Services Director General Zahid Pervaiz to educate people about dengue fever through the print and electronic media.

“Dengue has become a social problem. Government institutions, citizens and the media should join hands to fight the virus,” Rafique said.

He assured health officials that shortage of staff and transport would be met after Eid holidays to accelerate anti-dengue activities at the town level.

Earlier, town officers briefed the meeting about the dengue fever situation in their areas. They discussed availability of medicines, machinery and staff in this regard.

The officers apprised the adviser of the ongoing dengue surveillance activities and preventive measures to be taken during Eid holidays.

The meeting was informed that dengue larvae had been detected at some sites. The adviser was informed that dengue larvae had been detected in desert coolers and in some parks.

Institute of Public Health Dean Muaz Ahmed, Epidemic, Response and Control Additional Director General Islam Zafar, Health Executive District Officer Zulfiqar Ali and officers from the Punjab Information Technology Board attended the meeting.

The adviser had earlier ordered that dengue mosquito surveillance be continued during Eid holidays.

“A large number of people visit graveyards on Eid… arrangements should be made to keep the graveyards clean,” he had told a cabinet committee meeting on dengue fever prevention.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2014.