‘Concerted efforts needed to eradicate dengue’

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar has directed that monitoring, surveillance and reporting of dengue-related activities be improved, besides starting larviciding in vulnerable areas.

He was presiding over a video-link meeting regarding dengue control at Civil Secretariat here on Monday. Speaking at the meeting, the Chief Secretary said that keeping in view uncertain weather conditions anti-dengue activities must be expedited throughout Punjab. He mentioned that concerted efforts are needed to eradicate dengue once and for all.

He ordered that availability of healthcare facilities and trained doctors and nurses be ensured for dengue patients in district and tehsil headquarter hospitals, adding that trained staff should not be transferred.

He directed the divisional commissioners that weekly meetings at district and tehsil level be held to review anti-dengue activities and a report be submitted regularly in this regard. Asserting that it is high time to act against dengue, the Chief Secretary asked the secretary primary health to evolve a comprehensive plan to get rid of deadly diseases of dengue and polio.

He said that human development was ignored in the past but now there is a need to work on social sector uplift. He said that surveillance teams should carry out ‘qualitative work’ as quality is more important than quantity, adding that hiring of staff be done if required.

Awareness regarding dengue should be enhanced as people’s cooperation is of significant importance in the efforts to control dengue; relevant departments should play active role in this regard, he added.

Dr Faisal Masood told the meeting that 22 dengue cases have been confirmed since January this year. He maintained that dengue-related training has been imparted to 1215 doctors and nurses during the current year whereas 21,323 medics have been trained during the period from 2011 to 2019. He said dengue can be prevented by adopting precautionary measures.