Continue united efforts to end dengue,Nasir Khosa directs to officials

Lahore:Chief Secretary Punjab Nasir Mehmood Khosa has directed that all concerned departments should efficiently continue their activities according to Dengue Action Plan 2013 and execute their responsibilities with dedication and efficiency so that the fatal dengue disease could not re-surface in the coming season.

Chief Secretary Punjab stated this, while presiding over a meeting of Provincial Dengue Response Committee, in his office here today. Besides Addl. Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal, Secretary Health Arif Nadeem, Secretary Information & Culture Abdullah Khan Sumbal, Secretary Local Government, Labour Department, Agriculture, School Education, Higher Education, Environment department attended the meeting. Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Prof. Faisal Masood, Addl. Director General Vector Born Disease Dr. Jaffar Ilyas, Incharge CM’s Dengue Research Cell Dr. Wasim Akram and DCO Lahore Noor-ul-Amin Mangal were also present. Secretary Health informed that so far no confirmed dengue case has been reported across the province during current season. He informed that 51 suspected dengue patients were brought to different hospitals but their blood reports were found negative. He further said that at present no dengue patient was under treatment in any hospital. Moreover, indoor and outside vector surveillance activities were continuing during which dengue larvae was detected from some points in different towns of Lahore where the City District Government has conducted targeted indoor spray and larvae was disposed of through mechanical method. He informed that all the arrangements for diagnostic and treatment of dengue patients has been completed and High Dependency Units in public hospitals are fully functional. VC KEMU Prof. Dr. Faisal Masood briefed the meeting about training of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff being conducted in different medical colleges. Secretary Local Government informed that officers of Local Government Department are conducting field visits and special cleanliness campaign is being carried out in the field offices of Local Government Department. He said that dengue monitoring campaign was continuing in graveyards, warehouses and godowns of used tyres. Secretary School Education said that a cleanliness week would be observed from April 1st in all schools of the province.

The Chief Secretary directed that during dengue season school children should wear full sleeves shirts and trousers to protect themselves from dengue mosquito bite. He further directed that at least 2 zero periods should be observed in a week in all education institutions for creating awareness about the dengue disease among the students. Secretary Higher Education informed that dengue larvae monitoring activities are continuing at college level in which boy and girl students were fully participating. He informed that 441 awareness seminars were also conducted in colleges while dengue awareness stalls have also been established in colleges. Secretary Labour Department informed that all the arrangements for treatment of dengue patients have been completed in the social security hospitals. He said that seminars have been organized in industrial units for creating awareness among the workers. He told that pamphlets and CDs containing precautionary measures against dengue virus have also be distributed among the industrial workers. Secretary Agriculture informed that dengue vector monitoring activities are also being conducted by the department and only in Lahore 500 spots have been checked during the last one week.

Secretary Information & Culture Abdullah Khan Sumbal apprised the meeting that Information Department is carrying out a massive dengue awareness campaign through print and electronic media. He said that Lahore Arts Council, Punjab Arts Council, FM-95 Radio(Punjab Rang) and Lahore Museum through their special programmes are disseminating awareness among the visitors and listeners about dengue disease. DCO Lahore informed the meeting that dengue monitoring and surveillance in Lahore is going-on with full zeal. He said that federal government departments and institutions have also been exhorted through a letter to take necessary steps against dengue.