Adviser for enhancing dengue control, surveillance

LAHORE
Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique has directed the officers of all the departments concerned to enhance their performance regarding dengue control and dengue surveillance should be continued. He directed that special attention should be paid to Rawalpindi which was a very sensitive area for dengue.
He said this while presiding over a meeting of the Cabinet Committee at the Civil Secretariat, according to a handout issued on Monday. Besides, Additional Chief Secretary Punjab Syed Mubashir Raza, Members of Punjab Assembly Lubna Faisal, Peer Ashraf and Ch. Mohammad Akram, Secretary Health Jawwad Rafique Malik, senior officers of all the departments concerned, public health experts, Incharge Chief Minister’s Dengue Research Cell Prof. Waseem Akram, officers of PITB and federal departments attended the meeting.
Additional Director General Health Dengue Control Dr. Islam Zafar presented a review regarding dengue situation in Punjab, particularly in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Sheikhupura. He informed the media that dengue larvae were being detected in a large number in Cantt, Rawal Town, Rawalpindi and adjacent areas of Islamabad and patients were also being reported from these areas.
He further informed the media that satisfactory arrangements had been made for the treatment of dengue patients.
Prof Waseem Akram said there should be effective arrangements for removal of solid waste in urban areas including Rawalpindi so that accumulated rainwater and solid waste could not become dengue hotspots.
He also said that water stored in pots for birds at the rooftops was also a source of dengue breeding which should be removed. Addl. Chief Secretary Syed Mubashir Raza directed the officers to take effective measures in accordance with the SOPs for dengue control. He warned that no laxity would be tolerated in this regard.
Khawaja Salman Rafique has convened a special meeting of senior officers of all departments on 2nd September at the office of the Commissioner Rawalpindi to evolve an effective strategy for controlling dengue in the Cantt area and Rawal Town Rawalpindi and in the adjacent areas of federal capital.
He reiterated that like previous years dengue would not be allowed to take the form of epidemic this year also. Kh. Salman Rafique said that Chief Minister Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif was personally monitoring the situation and performance of all he departments in this regard.
He also stressed the need for a vigorous public awareness campaign against dengue as full community participation was essential for effective dengue control.