Senior doctors to check dengue patients twice a day

Lahore: Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that on the directions of the Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, senior doctors and consultants have been made duty bound to examine dengue patients twice a day (morning/evening).

He expressed these views while visiting Mayo Hospital and Services Hospital to inquire after the health of dengue patients, here today. Special Secretary Health Babar Hayat Tarar, Director General Health Punjab Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, Incharge Chief Minister Dengue Research Cell and Chief Entomologist Prof. Dr. Waseem Akram were also present on this occasion.

Kh. Salman Rafique visited each patient in dengue ward individually and inquired about the treatment facilities extended to them. He also obtained information regarding their profession and residential address so that the nature of dengue fever could be assessed. The senior doctors of both the hospitals briefed him about the condition of the patients.

Kh. Salman Rafique directed the officers of Health Department to ensure implementation on SOPs of dengue case response and conduct Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) in and around 40 houses of the patients to control spread of dengue fever.

Incharge Chief Minister Dengue Research Cell Dr. Waseem Akram said that although due to the decreasing temperature the incidence of larva in open places is minimized but due to the conducive temperature inside the houses dengue mosquito can refuge in bedrooms, stores, kitchen and other places, therefore, residents should remove all hotspots of dengue from their houses. He said that the only effective weapon against dengue is to take preventive measures and for this purpose vigorous awareness campaign is going on in Punjab through media.

While talking to the media, Kh. Salman Rafique said that Chief Minister is personally monitoring the steps taken by different departments for eradication of dengue and every morning he review the dengue status in Punjab especially Lahore, Rawalpindi and Sheikhupura as these districts are badly affected by the dengue virus. He said that public representatives, government officers and other agencies apprising the Chief Minister about the steps taken in the meeting on every morning at 8.00 am. He said that special instructions have been issued to all hospitals to implement the guidelines of Dengue Experts Advisory Group in the treatment of dengue patients. He said that vector surveillance has also been improved and additional staff has been deputed for indoor dengue surveillance.

Kh. Salman Rafique said that we have to change our lifestyle for effective control on dengue and community should play their due role enthusiastically. He hoped that as the weather is changing the dengue condition would visibly improve during next two weeks.