Dengue Expert Advisory Group completed the training of doctors and nurses

Lahore: Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique has directed all the concerned departments to start anti-dengue activities in accordance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) as the season has changed. He said that early dengue surveillance, larviciding activities and awareness steps would be helpful in controlling dengue at initial stage.

He said this while presiding over the first meeting of 2014 of cabinet committee on dengue control at 90-Shahra-e-Quaid-e-Azam here today.

Besides Parliamentary Secretary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir, elected representatives, Secretary Health Babar Hayat Tarar, Commissioner Lahore Rashid Mehmood Langrial and secretaries/additional secretaries of various departments, DG Health, Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Prof. Faisal Masood and senior officers of PITB, IPH, police and special branch attended the meeting.

Briefing the meeting, Secretary Health informed that during current year no dengue case has so far been reported in Punjab while in Sindh 120 confirmed dengue cases have been reported. He informed that sufficient stock of medicines/chemicals like deltamathrine, tomiphose etc is available in the Health Department stores. He said that SOPs evolved by the experts of Institute of Public Health have been published in a book form which would be circulated to all departments and district governments.

During the meeting, senior officers gave briefing regarding their preparedness and steps taken for dengue control in the province. It was informed that dengue surveillance activities have been launched in Lahore, Sheikhupura and other sensitive districts but no dengue larva positive report has been received from any city. Secretary School Education Abdul Jabbar Shaheen informed that school children would wear full sleeve shirts throughout the year. He said that a circular has been issued to all EDOs Education for its implementation.

Khawaja Salman Rafique directed that all departments should work with a focused approach for getting best results from their trained human resource. Parliamentary Secretary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir observed that special attention should be given to junkyards for dengue surveillance and larvaeciding activities. He urged upon the people to participate in anti-dengue activities with a sense of civic responsibility.

VC KEMU Prof. Faisal Masood informed that Dengue Expert Advisory Group has completed the training of doctors and nurses in case management and treatment of dengue patients. Chief entomologist Prof. Dr. Waseem Akram informed that training modules have been formulated for training of more than 400 master trainers in the field of dengue surveillance, larvaeciding, fogging, spray etc. He said that these master trainers would impart training to other officials in their departments/institutions.