CM takes notice of expired chemicals used in fumigation drives

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has taken notice of the expired chemicals used in the fumigation drive against dengue mosquitoes in the provincial capital recently.

"This is serious negligence and I cannot tolerate it," remarked Shah. "This is a question of life and death for the citizens and I will not allow anybody to play with it."

This year, the reported cases are higher than the last year, said Shah. "I am not satisfied with the preventive measures."  The officials need to implement measures wholeheartedly and inform CM House every day, he directed the health department officials.

Shah also emphasised the need to launch a vigorous awareness campaign through print and electronic media.

Dengue is endemic in 110 countries, including Pakistan, said Dengue Prevention and Control Programme project director Dr Masood Ahmed Solangi. This year, around 2,703 cases have been registered in Sindh, of them seven could not survive, he added.

Health secretary Saeed Mangnijo said that the ratio of dengue cases has increased 30 times since 1960 to 2010 due to several reasons, including urbanisation, population growth, increased international travels and global warming.

Mangnijo said that dengue has gripped Pakistan with an unprecedented intensity since the past few years.

"The first case was reported in 1994 and in 1995 whe there was an outbreak in Karachi,during  which 145 patients were admitted to the hospital, one of whom died," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2015.