Secretary Health Punjab Jawwad Rafique Malik has asked officers of government departments that the weather condition is very favourable for dengue breeding after rains, therefore, all departments should remain fully alert and continue anti-dengue activities vigorously.
He said this while presiding over a meeting of Cabinet Committee for Eradication of Dengue, here today. Members Provincial Assembly Pir Ashraf Rasool and Mrs. Kiran Dar besides senior officers of all government departments, Director General Health Punjab, officers of PITB, Pakistan Railways, Sui Gas and other federal departments attended the meeting. DCOs Lahore and Sheikhupura were present on the occasion whereas Commissioners of Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala and EDO Health attended the meeting through vide link. DCO Lahore Capt. Retd. Muhammad Usman told that dengue surveillance teams have been increased in Lahore due to which dengue surveillance has further improved and larva has been reported in a large quantity. He told that 172 cases have been registered on the violation of dengue regulations during current month. Commisisoners of Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala gave briefings about the acitivities being carried out for creating awareness regarding dengue as well as indoor and outdoor surveillance for controlling dengue in their respective divisions.
Secretary Health directed DCO Sheikhupura to arrange clean sweep regarding dengue at Imamia Colony and Rana Town. He directed that concerned departments should conduct clean sweep in red alert union councils so that larva breeding should be eliminated. The meeting reviewed the arrangements of treatment of dengue patients besides dengue surveillance in government hospitals. Secretary Health directed that foolproof arrangemnts should be made for the treatment of dengue patients. Officers of Pakistan Railways, Auqaf, Irrigation, Agriculture, PITB, Environment, Meteorological, Forest, Fisheries departments presented their progress reports.
Secretary Health constituted a committee of the officers of Irrigation, WASA, Solid Waste Management besides other departments who will arrange the desilting of Charar drain passing through Badian Road. Secretary Health told that Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is personally monitoring anti-dengue activities. He said that weather has become favourbale after rains for dengue breeding, therefore, outdoor and indoor anti-dengue survillance will have to be carried out by all concerned departments. He said that an effective public awareness campaign should be launched as community participaiton is very essential to overcome dengue.