Chief Secretary Punjab Capt. (Retd.) Zahid Saeed has directed that all the government departments and the institutions should ensure implementation on standard operating procedures for dengue control by taking effective measures with dedication and professional zeal. He said that next two months are very crucial with regard to the dengue control and there is no space for any negligence or slackness as all the departments are conducting dengue control activities for the last many years.
He expressed these views while addressing the meeting of Cabinet Committee on Dengue, held on Friday under the chairmanship of Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh. Salman Rafiq in the Committee Room of Civil Secretariat. Additional Chief Secretary Shamail Ahmad Khawaja, Secretary Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Najam Ahmed Shah, Secretary Primary & Secondary Health Ali Jan Khan, Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Prof. Faisal Masood, secretaries and senior officers of all the concerned departments, DG Health, Incharge Chief Minister Dengue Research Cell, Divisional Commissioners and DCOs attended the meeting. Chief Secretary directed that special attention should be paid on Rawalpindi for dengue control and collective efforts also be carried out with the collaboration of the authorities of Federal Capital Islamabad. Chief Secretary said that provincial government is ready to provide extra resources to the district governments for dengue control activities. He directed that Special Branch report regarding performance of various departments in dengue control should be given due importance and gaps pointed out in it also be immediately rectified. Earlier, Additional Director General Dengue Control Dr. Fayyaz Butt briefed the meeting regarding the dengue situation and indoor/outdoor dengue surveillance activities in the province. Kh. Salman Rafiq said that keeping in view the previous year’s experience in Rawalpindi there is a need to work with more dedication to check the dengue. He directed that local cable network should be used for creating awareness among the masses as the community participation is essential to control dengue. He directed to hold meetings with the administration of private hospitals for implementation on guidelines issued by Dengue Expert Advisory Group for case management. Additional Chief Secretary Shamail Ahmad Khawaja directed that data bank should be prepared of the doctors who have imparted training of case management from Dengue Expert Advisory Group. Commissioner Gujranwala Division and DCOs of Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Attock, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan also briefed the meeting regarding anti-dengue activities in their respective districts.