Awareness seminar, walk arranged at RMC & HFH

Rawalpindi
Administrations of Rawalpindi Medical College and Holy Family Hospital arranged an awareness seminar and walk here at the new teaching block of RMC on Saturday to create awareness among public on how to control dengue fever outbreak that has severely hit population in the district.
Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq, provincial Health Secretary Malik Jawad Rafiq, District Coordination Officer Sajid Zafar Dal, RMC Principal Professor Dr. Muhammad Umar, representatives of Dengue Expert Advisory Group (DEAG), medical superintendents of the three allied hospitals in town along with a number of senior health officials attended the set of activities.
The set of activities include monitoring of prevention and curative services being provided at the three teaching hospitals in town, educational and awareness seminar and a walk on the premises of the HFH.
Talking to the participants of the seminar, Professor Umar presented data regarding dengue fever patients and suspects reaching allied hospitals. Over 350 confirmed patients of the infection have been given treatment at the RMC allied hospitals while a total of 600 patients were admitted during the recent outbreak, he said.
He added the allied hospitals have so far screened well over 3,500 patients for dengue fever at their outpatient departments however the infection has claimed no life so far that is a positive sign for the healthcare providers.
The DCO announced donation of 10 air conditioners for dengue ward at the HFH while Khawaja Salman Rafiq appreciated the services being rendered to dengue fever patients and suspects at RMC and allied hospitals.
The advisor to CM on health said the treatment model adopted by the RMC and allied hospitals would be implemented in all hospitals of the Punjab province. He also appreciated the efforts of Head of Paediatrics Department at RMC Professor Dr. Rai Asghar for managing child patients of dengue fever efficiently.
Talking to the participants, the Punjab health secretary said he would work seriously for approval of Department of Infectious Diseases established by the RMC. The RMC has established the department on its own and 50 per cent of its staff has been arranged through the existing strength.
Malik Jawad Rafiq appreciating the efforts of RMC administration said he would like to get approval of the department at the soonest and would work for induction of necessary staff required for running it properly.
Representatives of DEAG Professor Abida Sultana, Dr. Muhammad Khurram and Dr. Wasim Akram gave technical feedback on the existing situation and causes of early outbreak of dengue fever in Rawalpindi.
Talking to ‘The News’, Professor Umar said the medical superintendents at the allied hospitals Dr. Arshad Ali Sabir, Dr. Khalid Randhawa and Dr. Asif Qadir Mir has worked a lot for implementation of an efficient treatment model at the allied hospitals while Additional Medical Superintendent at HFH Dr. Tariq Masood Niazi has played an important role for developing dengue treatment protocol at RMC and allied hospitals.
Dr. Zahid Minhas coordinated the set of activities arranged on Saturday that according to Professor Umar was an initiative of the Punjab Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal though he could not attend the activity because of his engagements in Lahore.