Strategy to contain dengue virus in Nowshera chalked out

NOWSHERA/MINGORA /LANDIKOTAL: The district administration in Nowshera on Monday chalked out a strategy to contain the outbreak of dengue virus in the district.

A meeting was held at the office of Deputy Commissioner Khwaja Muhammad Sikandar Zeeshan.

District Health Officer Dr Arshad, Assistant Deputy Commissioner Fazal Hussain, assistant commissioners and in-charges Rural Health Centres, Basic Health Units and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

The deputy commissioner told the reporters that the meeting decided to set up an emergency control room at the deputy commissioner’s office and appointed Additional Deputy Commissioner Fazal Hussain as its focal person. Dr Abuzar was appointed focal person for Health Department.

He said it was decided to set up 10-bed isolation wards for dengue patients in all the largest public sector hospitals and four-bed wards in each Rural Health Centre across the district.

The deputy said that fumigation would be carried out in the district and dengue test facilities would be provided in all the health facilities in Nowshera.

It was also decided to carry out an awareness campaign about the fever and organise seminars and walks to sensitize the people about the mosquito-borne disease.

The deputy commissioner urged the people to adopt precautionary measures to deny breading grounds to the mosquitoes carrying the virus.

Meanwhile, our correspondent added from Mingora that District Health Department had taken measures against dengue virus in the wake of the outbreak of the deadly virus in Peshawar. Talking to reporters here, District Health Officer Dr Fazal Subhani said that Dengue Cell has been activated and fumigation campaign has been started in various areas.

The official said that daily meetings were being held with other departments. He urged the masses to take precautionary steps and avoid keeping water uncovered.

A report from Landikotal said the Khyber Rifles Health Unit arranged awareness camps in Landikotal and Jamrud tehsils of the Khyber Agency to communicate to the people the methods of protection from dengue virus.

Captain Dr Faisal of Khyber Rifles was leading the camps which taught methodologies and precautionary arrangements that could help protect from dengue.

The awareness sessions were separately arranged in Mukhtarkhel and Sultankhel areas of Landikotal and Jamrud. A number of residents in Landikotal and Jamrud participated in the awareness sessions.