Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has directed all concerned government departments and the agencies to continue their dengue control activities during Eid ul Azha holidays and special attention should be focused on outdoor & indoor surveillance and vector control activities. He said that recent rains have increased the chances of dengue breeding and the next two months are very important with regard to dengue. Kh. Salman Rafique further said that full public participation is the basic need for effective control on this problem.
He was chairing a meeting of Cabinet Committee on dengue at Civil Secretariat, here today. Besides, elected public representatives, Director General Health Punjab Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, senior officers of all the concerned departments, public health experts, DCOs and EDOs health of Lahore, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan and Rawalpindi, In-charge Chief Minister Dengue Research Cell, officers of Special Branch and PITB attended the meeting. All officers and DCOs gave briefings about the on-going anti-dengue activities, outdoor and indoor dengue surveillance, monitoring of graveyards, junkyards, tyre shops, construction sites and other places. DCO Lahore Capt(R) Mohammad Usman informed that as compare to the last year, double dengue larvae is being detected this year especially from the houses during surveillance, however,, due to better surveillance and steps taken by the government, dengue is well controlled in Lahore and only 8 confirmed dengue cases have so far been reported this year in the city. Khawaja Salman Rafique observed that dengue cases have increased in Rawalpindi but due to good patient management by the doctors in Government hospitals, all patients are recovering fast. He said that doctors are taking care of these patients in a very professional manner according to the SOPs. He urged that no negligence should be shown in dengue surveillance during Eid holidays especially in Rawalpindi to overcome dengue outbreak in the city. He directed special dengue surveillance be conducted in open grounds where large gatherings of Namaz e Eid will take place. He also directed for clean sweep in graveyards. Kh. Salman Rafique revealed that besides government departments, people should also realise their responsibility and participate in anti-dengue activities by removing stagnant water from their houses and eradicate dengue breeding hot spots.