Battling dengue: Anti-dengue day to be observed on June 15

LAHORE:

An anti-dengue day will be observed in the Punjab on June 15 to raise awareness among people about the disease and its prevention, Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique said on Thursday.

He was presiding over a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Dengue at Civil Secretariat. MNA Kiran Dar, MPAs Lubna Faisal and Pir Ashraf Rasool, Health Services director general Zahid Pervaiz was also present.

The commissioners of Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi Divisions participated in the meeting through video link.

The officials said that due to an increase in temperature, the breeding of dengue larvae had declined considerably. “Now dengue larvae are being reported from Lahore and Sheikhupura in small numbers,” they said.

The meeting was informed that 108 FIRs had been registered against people in Lahore for violation of dengue regulations.

Both chemical and biological methods were being used to eliminate the larvae.

The meeting was informed that Fisheries Department had provided dengue larvae-eating fish for 273 water bodies in Lahore. “The Dengue Expert Advisory Group has trained doctors and nurses of private hospitals in clinical management. Another training programme will start from June 2. Five master trainers will be trained from each district,” the officials said.

Rafique directed principals of schools and colleges to visit their institutions twice a week during summer vacations for dengue surveillance to ensure that the premises did not become mosquito breeding sites during vacations. He said that due to the consolidated efforts of government departments, dengue was not fully under control.

“All the stockholders should continue their efforts against dengue to control this menace in the coming season. There is a need for continuing research on dengue,” he said.

He said that the Institute of Public Health should play its role in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2015.