Dengue larvae being reported in Lahore, Pindi, Sheikhupura

LAHORE

Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq presided over a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Dengue at the Civil Secretariat on Tuesday. Senior officers and representatives of all the departments concerned, institutions and agencies attended the meeting.

According to a handout issued on Tuesday, Commissioners, DCOs and EDOs Health of Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan briefed the meeting regarding the anti-dengue activities in their respective districts through video link.

The meeting was informed that vigorous indoor and outdoor dengue surveillance has been carried out due to which dengue larvae are being reported at different places in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Sheikhupura.

However, no confirmed dengue patient has so far been reported in Punjab.

Secretary Dengue Experts Advisory Group (DEAG) Dr. Somia Iqtidar informed the meeting that DEAG has imparted case management training to 700 doctors of public and private sectors in the current season. 

She also informed the meeting that Divisional DEAGs are also conducting training to the doctors and nurses for better treatment of dengue patients. The meeting has also checked the stock of medicines used in dengue spray and spray pumps, fogging machines available with the district governments.

Kh. Salman Rafiq directed that dengue surveillance teams should give more concentration on the surveillance in such areas where larvae are still not reported so that no chance of any leniency can be spared. He observed that effective strategy and better arrangements would be possible on the basis of available data of larvae.

The meeting was informed that Town Emergency Response Committees (TERC) have been reactivated and regular meetings of TERC are being held on weekly basis. Director Punjab Information Technology Board disclosed that the PITB has prepared a map and database of dengue cases of every city and town keeping in view the last three years dengue cases.

He said it has been uploaded on the dashboard. He observed that this document would help to evolve a better future strategy for effective dengue control.

Moreover, it will also be helpful to check the performance of the departments. Kh. Salman directed that all the departments should continue their anti-dengue activities according to the Standard Operating Procedure to check the dengue breeding in their respective areas.