Dengue fever claims 10-year-old girl’s life

Officials say heads likely to roll as health minister dissatisfied with dengue control efforts

As the dengue haemorrhagic fever claimed yet another life – the fifth according to independent estimates but the third in official records – in the city on Friday, it was learnt that Sindh’s health authorities have decided to introduce certain changes in the Provincial Dengue Prevention and Control Programme setup.

Following the confirmation of the death of a 10-year-old girl, Marium Faisal, at a private hospital, it was reported that an incensed Sindh Health Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro had decided in principle to revamp the dengue control programme by bringing in a ‘competent and qualified’ doctor to head the unit.

Confirming Marium’s death as a dengue-related fatality, officials said the child was suffering from high-grade fever and her platelet count had plummeted despite supportive treatment.

While independent counts place Marium as the fifth dengue fever victim in Karachi this year, officials of the dengue prevention programme contended that only three people had died of the vector-borne viral disease in the city in 2016.

Changes on the cards

Officials of the health department said the health minister had expressed serious reservations over the fact that despite provision of millions of rupees to the Dengue Prevention and Control Programme, Sindh, adequate measures had not been taken for public awareness about the viral disease.

It was said the minister was deeply unsatisfied with the performance of the heads of all 12 vertical programmes in the health sector and has, initially, decided to revamp the dengue prevention and control unit.

In the first phase, the officials said, the minister wished to replace the heads of the dengue programme and the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA).

“It is the responsibility of the dengue programme and SBTA officials to ensure that patients diagnosed with dengue fever are provided mega-units at any hospital in Karachi and rest of the province. Unfortunately, however, both these authorities have failed to give this aspect due importance and the health minister has taken serious exception to this,” said the health official.

It is worth mentioning that Dr Mandhro had recently announced his intent to initiate disciplinary action against heads of different health department units, soon after he removed the health secretary for incompetence.