WHO WILL PROVIDE FULL COOPERATION FOR DENGUE CONTROL IN FLOOD AFFECTED AREAS

Lahore: Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has said that Health Department will seek cooperation of international health partners for epidemic control and provision of health facilities in the flood affected areas.

He said this while talking to a 3-member delegation of World Health Organization (WHO) which called on him at Civil Secretariat, here today. Secretary Health Jawad Rafique Malik, Secretary Finance Jehanzeb Khan, Director General Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, Director Integrated Programme Mother Neonatal & Child Health Programme Dr. Tanvir Ahmed, Director MNCH Dr. Zafar Ikram, Director Health CDC Dr. Ahmed Afifi and Director Health EPI Dr. Munir Ahmed were also present in the meeting. The WHO delegation comprised Dr.Jamshed Ali, Dr. Mazhar Qureshi and Dr. Ali Raja.

The meeting was told that WHO has already provided a large quantity of medicines and other articles for providing medical treatment to the people of flood-hit areas. DG Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz said that Health Department has asked WHO to provide Emergency Health Kits, Diarrhea kits, water purification (aquapura) tablets, anti-snake venom, anti-rabies vaccine, Primaqueen tablets for malaria treatment and Rapid Diagnostic Kits for early diagnosis. The WHO delegation assured that WHO would extend full cooperation to the provincial government in providing healthcare facilities and control of epidemics.

Secretary Finance Jehanzeb Khan suggested that volunteer services of university students should also be sought for rehabilitation activities and conducting survey of affected areas. He urged WHO to play a central role for gathering international agencies and local NGOs at one platform for an effective rehabilitation campaign. The meeting agreed upon the proposals presented by Secretary Finance and it was decided that a strategy would be evolved for acquiring services of university students for this purpose. Secretary Health Jawad Rafique Malik said that government has taken all out measures on war footing basis to control epidemics in flood-affected areas. He stressed the need to accelerate and expand the scope of relief and rehabilitation activities.