Fighting epidemics: Ministry seeks help from The Global Fund

Assistance will be requested to fight the rising incidence of dengue

ISLAMABAD: Following a major outbreak of dengue fever across the country this year the federal health ministry has decided to seek financial and technical assistance from The Global Fund. Assistance is being requested to handle the ongoing worrisome situation.

The federal ministry is also looking forward to devising a strategy for the equal distribution of resources to the provincial health departments for tackling dengue fever.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) this year so far 1382 have been reported from Sindh out of which 1314 have been reported from Karachi. In Punjab a total of 435 cases have reported with an outbreak of the disease in Rawalpindi city having reached 420. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported 466 cases of dengue fever to date. Cases from Balochistan cannot be estimated as there is no surveillance mechanism in place for the province.  The above quoted numbers for all other provinces are estimates and the actual cases could possibly be far higher than the numbers given.

An emergency meeting was called upon orders of the Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Saira Afzal Tarar on Monday with stake holders. This was shared by the Dr Assad Hafeez, Director General Health.

He said in the meeting it was decided that Pakistan will seek financial assistance from The Global Fund. The Global Fund is already giving funds to Pakistan to fight malaria.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd,   2015.