Adviser for steps to eradicate dengue

LAHORE
Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has said that measures should be taken on war footing for complete eradication of dengue in Rawalpindi. He said that teams of departments concerned should work round the clock for elimination of dengue larva and fogging spray should be conducted consistently in those areas where dengue cases were reported whereas emergent measures should be taken by Wasa for checking leakage of pipes, de-silting of nullahs and disposal of rainwater. He directed that no dereliction or laxity of officers and department would be tolerated in this regard.
He issued these instructions while addressing a special meeting of the Subcommittee of Punjab Cabinet regarding dengue situation at Commissioner’s Office Rawalpindi, according to a handout issued on Wednesday. Secretary Health Jawad Rafique Malik, Secretary Housing Dr. Muhammad Arshad, Secretary Local Government Khalid Masood, Chairman CDA Maroof Afzal, Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Zahid Saeed, Director General Environments, Director General Fisheries, DCOs of Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal, RPO Rawalpindi Fakhar Sultan Raja, Principal Rawalpindi Medical College Dr. Muhammad Umer besides senior officials of government departments attended the meeting.
Kh. Salman Rafique, addressing the meeting, informed the media that it was a matter of concern that 57 cases of dengue had been reported in the hospitals of Rawalpindi. He said that secretaries of departments concerned and he himself would monitor anti-dengue activities in Rawalpindi. He said the dengue cases had been reported in the month of August. He said the experts of the Health Department should review the causes in this respect. Kh. Salman Rafique said the departments concerned should keep close liaison with elected representatives to implement anti-dengue activities. He said the anti-dengue activities of departments concerned would be reviewed on daily basis.
Adviser to Chief Minister further said the officers of chief executive level of cantonment board should monitor anti-dengue activities and participate in the meeting personally regarding these activities. He said that beds should be reserved at private hospitals as well as government hospitals for the treatment of dengue patients in Rawalpindi. He further said the government departments should ensure mutual coordination for regularly monitoring anti-dengue activities. Secretary Health Kh. Jawad Rafique, addressing the meeting, said that necessary resources were being provided to the departments concerned for eradication of dengue.
Chairman CDA Maroof Afzal told the meeting that immediate steps would be taken for removing solid waste on principal roads. He said that steps were also being taken for eradicating dengue in Islamabad.