next six weeks are extremely crucial for breeding of dengue mosquito:Kh Salman

Lahore: Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh. Salman Rafique, has directed heads of all government departments to continue to work with same enthusiasm and zeal in ensuring eradication of dengue virus as was displayed on the anti-dengue day. He pointed out that .

He was presiding over a meeting of Cabinet Committee to review ongoing anti dengue steps and their implementation by different departments here today. The meeting was attended by elected representatives from Lahore, secretaries of all government departments, Commissioner Lahore Division, DCO Lahore and other senior officers. Appreciating the performance of all departments on 2nd September anti dengue day. Kh. Salman Rafiqa especially praised the professional services of Secretary Information and Culture, Mohyuddin Wani, DGPR Ather Ali Khan and other officers of the Department for creating awareness about dengue-virus among the general public and highlighting government performance in this regard. Kh. Salman Rafique said that volunteers and NGOs have also performed significant role in order to make Anti-Dengue Day thumping success.

Talking on the occasion, Secretary Auqaf informed that anti-dengue practice by Punjab government is being popularly appreciated and has been termed that one of the best practice against dengue virus. Various secretaries, DCO Lahore briefed the meeting about the performance on Anti-Dengue Day. Incharge Chief Minister Dengue Research Cell, Dr. Waseem Akram informed that targeted spray and fogging is going on at potential place for dengue larvae however, still there is no need for general spray and fogging everywhere. Kh. Salman Rafique directed that private hospitals be asked to display antecedents of dengue patients coming to the private hospitals at dash board prepared by Punjab Information Technology Board, as well as this detailed and timely information also be furnished to the Health Department so that timely healthcare can be provided to the patients. Further more focal persons of government hospitals should also transformed antecedent of dengue patient at dash board without loosing any time.

The meeting was informed that despite creating lot of awareness in this regard, room coolers used in summer have not been clean while they are still under use at some places. Water present in these room coolers a potential breeding place of larva. Kh. Salman Rafique appealed to the people as the weather has substantially wet, use of room coolers should be stopped and the water present in it should be drained-out. It was suggested in the meeting to impose penalty on big plaza in case of any dengue laves. However. The implementation on this proposal was put of till the next meeting of Cabinet Committee. The meeting was attended by secretaries and additional secretary of Health, Agriculture, Information and Culture, Auqaf, Labour, Social Welfare, Higher Education, Schools Education, Irrigation, Environment and Food & Industries Departments while the meeting was also attended by officers of WASA, Solid Waste Management and other institutions.