Vigorous anti-dengue activities will be continued: Kh Salman

Lahore: Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has directed the officers of all concerned departments to personally monitor dengue surveillance teams for improving their performance. He also directed WASA and PHA to dewater water bodies which have been developed after heavy rains.

He said this while chairing a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Dengue here today. Besides, Parliamentary Secretary on Health Kh. Imran Nazir, Members Punjab Assembly Pir Ashraf, Lubna Faisal, Kiran Dar, Additional Chief Secretary Aamir Sohail Mirza, Commissioner Lahore Rashid Mahmood Langrial, Secretaries, Additional Secretaries of concerned departments, DG Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, Dean Institute of Public Health Prof. Muaz Ahmed, Prof. Wasim Akram, DG PITB and senior officers of Special Branch, WASA and PHA were also present in the meeting. The officers of Health Department, Schools Education, Higher Education, Information & Culture, Auqaf, Agriculture, Irrigation, Fisheries, Social Welfare, Environment, DG PITB, LDA, Lahore Waste Management Company, district officers of Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Multan apprised the meeting of dengue control activities, awareness campaigns, seminars, walks, removal of solid waste, dewatering of ponds and the arrangements made for the treatment of dengue patients in government hospitals. It was informed that during current year, 32 confirmed dengue patients have been reported whereas in the previous year (2013) 100 confirmed dengue patients were reported till September 9.

Addressing the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary Aamir Sohail Mirza directed to convene short meetings of all Town Emergency Response Committees in the evening on daily basis. He said that besides town administrator, all senior officers should ensure their presence in the meeting and review the performance of their surveillance teams on daily basis. The meeting was informed that after reopening of schools and colleges zero periods have again been started and the programme of holding seminars and walks has also been ensured.

Kh. Salman Rafique directed concerned officers to remove the grass from graveyards which has grown up after rains. He directed the Auqaf Department to remove room coolers from the mosques as 52 percent of total detected larva was found in room coolers. Kh. Salman Rafique directed that the scrapped vehicles parked under open sky in the Rawalpindi Police Lines should immediately be removed.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali of Dengue Expert Advisory Group informed the meeting that the patient managements training of 200 doctors of private hospitals has been conducted at Services Institute of Medical Sciences.

DG PITB Amir Chaudhry informed that more than one million anti-dengue activities have been uploaded at the dash board so far. Moreover, the complaints received at the health-line are also been addressed. Kh. Salman Rafique directed all departments to continue their vigorous anti-dengue activities in the wake of recent heavy rains.

Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has said that close liaison between federal departments and Punjab Health Department is essential for effective control of dengue. Health Department Punjab is ready to provide all out technical cooperation and guidelines to the Federal Departments for this purpose.

He said this while holding a meeting with senior officers of federal government departments at Civil Secretariat today. Additional Chief Secretary Punjab Aamir Sohail Mirza, senior officers of concerned provincial departments, Director General Health Punjab Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, Addiitonal Secretary Health (Technical) Dr. Salman Shahid, Incharge Chief Minister’s Dengue Research Cell pro. Dr. Wasim Akram also present in the meeting. The officers of Pakistan Railways, WAPDA, Sui Northern Gas, Election Commission Lahore, NHA, State Bank of Pakistan NESPAK, National Savings, Pakistan Postal Service, Supreme Court, Accountant General Punjab, Pakistan Cricket Control Board, Pakistan Hockey Federation, State Life, PIA, Motorway Police and other agencies attended the meeting. Additional Director General Health Vector Born Disease Dr. Islam Zafar briefed the meeting about the present dengue situation and steps taken for dengue control.

Additional Chief Secretary Punjab stressed the need for further enhancing cooperation between Federal and Provincial departments so that collective efforts could be made to face the challenge. He said that federal departments should ensure implementation of SOPs of dengue control in their premises and employees colonies for removing dengue hot spots. He urged that a massive awareness campaign should be launched by the federal government departments for their employees and the residents of their housing colonies for which provincial government is ready to provide all kind of literature and awareness material.

While addressing the meeting, Kh. Salman Rafique asked the officers of Pakistan Railways to ensure sweeping in the railways workshops and redundant train boggies standing in Gulberg Town area. He also stressed the need for dewatering and removing of solid waste from the railways premises to control dengue breeding. Director General Health Punjab Dr. Zahid Pervaiz offered that Punjab Health Department is ready to provide cooperation for the treatment of dengue patients coming to federal government hospitals. Director General Health WAPDA appreciated the efforts and steps taken by the provincial government for controlling dengue. All the participants of meeting assured full cooperation to the Punjab government especially Health Department for the control of dengue.