Public health: Anti-dengue Day on Sunday

Seminars, walks planned to educate citizens about dengue fever.

LAHORE:

An Anti-dengue Day will be observed in the province on Sunday to educate citizens about the threat from virus.

A cleanliness drive will be launched at government departments to remove breeding sites for dengue larvae. Seminars and walks will be arranged to spread awareness about dengue fever.

A spokesman for the Health Department said arrangements had been finalised to observe the day at department offices, public hospitals and healthcare centres.

He said the health secretary had issued directives to ensure community participation in the anti-dengue activities on the day. He said an awareness campaign would be launched in both print and electronic media. District governments will use cable TV networks to spread the message.

The spokesman said banners carrying dengue fever awareness messages would be displayed at public places, including bus stops and railway stations. He said dengue fever was not only a medical problem but also a social issue.

Separately, Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique has directed town officers to carry out special surveillance of the areas where dengue fever cases have been reported.

The adviser was addressing a meeting of town officers in Lahore.

Additional Chief Secretary Amir Suhail Mirza, Commissioner Rashid Mehmood Langrial, District Coordination Officer Muhammad Usman, Additional Health Secretary Salman Shahid and Health Services Additional Director General for Vector Borne Diseases Islam Zafar were also present.

Rafique said there was a great chance of a dengue fever outbreak in the rainy season. He asked the authorities to remain vigilant in September.

He directed town administrators to personally monitor anti-dengue activities in high-risk union councils.

The commissioner told the meeting another 1,200 officials had been recruited for dengue surveillance in Lahore. He said the increase in manpower had yielded positive results.

He said factory owners in Ferozewala tehsil had been asked to submit dengue- clearance certificates. Action would be taken against factory owners on detection of dengue larvae on their premises.

Mirza said all provincial departments would extend cooperation to district and town administrations in efforts to eradicate dengue larvae. He said meetings of town response committees would be held daily to review their performance.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2014.