Be ready to fight dengue:Khawaja Salman asks the administration

Lahore:Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Health, Kh. Salman Rafique has directed all the concerned departments and the administrations of Public Sector Hospitals to remain alert and complete their arrangements for dealing with Dengue virus. He urged to improve the Vector and Disease Surveillance as well as system for providing the data of Dengue patients to PITB.

This was stated by him while presiding over a Cabinet Committee meeting which was held to review the implementation on the arrangements by various departments for prevention and control of dengue, at Minar-e-Pakistan Tent Office, here today. Provincial Minister Mujtaba Shujja-ur- Rahman, elected representatives of Lahore, secretaries and additional secretaries of concerned departments, Commissioner, DCO Lahore and principals/medical superintendent of teaching hospitals were also present in this meeting. The experts informed the meeting that due to effective measures taken by the government, community participation and the rising temperature dengue situation is under control, however, dengue larva was reported from very few places in the city. They further disclosed that during the monsoon season rapid growth of dengue mosquito is possible, therefore concerned departments and institutions should continue their efforts by maintaining their present performance. The meeting was informed that so far more than 12 thousand dengue volunteers and 18 thousand blood donors have been registered. The meeting was informed that proper training has also been imparted to these volunteers besides awarding special cards to them. It was further informed that hospitals run by NGOs have assured to reserve more beds for the dengue patients than the last year.

On this occasion principals and medical superintendents of teaching hospitals informed the meeting that dengue counters set up last year are still working and high dependency units are also functional. Moreover, the professional training of the doctors and the paramedic staff has already been completed. The secretaries and additional secretaries and commissioner gave the detail briefing regarding the initiative took by their respective departments in this regard.