Breeding season: Speed up anti-dengue efforts, says Health Secy
A cleanliness drive to be started in Imamia Colony, Rana Town
A cleanliness drive to be started in Imamia Colony, Rana Town. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
Health Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik on Monday directed all government departments to speed up anti-dengue measures.
“The weather is very favourable for dengue larvae breeding. Therefore, all departments should remain on alert,” he told a meeting of the Cabinet Committee for Eradication of Dengue.
MPAs Pir Ashraf Rasool and Kiran Dar and officers of the Pakistan Railways, Sui Gas and other federal departments attended the meeting. The district coordination officers (DCOs) of Lahore and Sheikhupura districts were present. The Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala divisional commissioners participated through video link.
Lahore DCO Capt (r) Muhammad Usman informed the meeting that the number of dengue surveillance teams had been increased. “Dengue larvae have been reported in large quantities. So far, 172 cases have been registered during the current month for the violation of dengue regulations,” he said.
The Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala commissioners briefed the meeting about activities for raising awareness among people about dengue in their divisions.
The health secretary directed the Sheikhupura DCO to start a cleanliness drive in Imamia Colony and Rana Town. “Government departments should conduct a cleanliness sweep in union councils where larvae were detected,” he said.
The meeting reviewed arrangements for treatment of dengue patients besides dengue surveillance in government hospitals. The health secretary said that foolproof arrangements should be made for the treatment of dengue patients.
He constituted a committee, comprising Irrigation Department, WASA and Solid Waste Management Company officials, to oversee the de-silting of Charar Drain on Bedian Road. Malik said that outdoor as well as indoor dengue surveillance should be increased to detect dengue larvae.
Polio
Separately, a Health Department spokesman denied reports of a new polio case in Mian Channu.
The spokesman said that in October 2014, paralysis had been reported in a child, Muhammad Hussain, in Mian Channu. “His samples were sent to the National Institute of Health, Islamabad. The lab did not confirm the presence of polio virus in the child,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2015.
Health Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik on Monday directed all government departments to speed up anti-dengue measures.
“The weather is very favourable for dengue larvae breeding. Therefore, all departments should remain on alert,” he told a meeting of the Cabinet Committee for Eradication of Dengue.
MPAs Pir Ashraf Rasool and Kiran Dar and officers of the Pakistan Railways, Sui Gas and other federal departments attended the meeting. The district coordination officers (DCOs) of Lahore and Sheikhupura districts were present. The Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala divisional commissioners participated through video link.
Lahore DCO Capt (r) Muhammad Usman informed the meeting that the number of dengue surveillance teams had been increased. “Dengue larvae have been reported in large quantities. So far, 172 cases have been registered during the current month for the violation of dengue regulations,” he said.
The Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala commissioners briefed the meeting about activities for raising awareness among people about dengue in their divisions.
The health secretary directed the Sheikhupura DCO to start a cleanliness drive in Imamia Colony and Rana Town. “Government departments should conduct a cleanliness sweep in union councils where larvae were detected,” he said.
The meeting reviewed arrangements for treatment of dengue patients besides dengue surveillance in government hospitals. The health secretary said that foolproof arrangements should be made for the treatment of dengue patients.
He constituted a committee, comprising Irrigation Department, WASA and Solid Waste Management Company officials, to oversee the de-silting of Charar Drain on Bedian Road. Malik said that outdoor as well as indoor dengue surveillance should be increased to detect dengue larvae.
Polio
Separately, a Health Department spokesman denied reports of a new polio case in Mian Channu.
The spokesman said that in October 2014, paralysis had been reported in a child, Muhammad Hussain, in Mian Channu. “His samples were sent to the National Institute of Health, Islamabad. The lab did not confirm the presence of polio virus in the child,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2015.