Dengue becomes priority for provincial administration as CM shows his concerns

 

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has directed all departments and concerned institutions to ensure complete implementation of anti-dengue plan and warned that no negligence or dereliction of duty will be tolerated in this regard. He said that Health Department should work efficiently for the monitoring of dengue patients and best treatment facilities should be provided to them in hospitals. He issued instructions for immediate action against those responsible for the death of a dengue patient in Lahore and directed that stern punishment under the law should be awarded to those who showed carelessness in the treatment of the dengue patient. The Chief Minister further directed that all out preventive measures be adopted for controlling Ebola virus.

He was presiding over a high level meeting here today to review implementation of anti-dengue plan and necessary measures against Ebola virus. The Chief Minister also reviewed the steps taken against dengue virus in Rawalpindi division and issued instructions to elected representatives and administration through video link. Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that nothing could be more important than human lives and all departments and institutions should work in a coordinated manner for overcoming dengue. He said that public awareness should be promoted regarding preventive measures against dengue and elected representatives should play an active role in this regard.

The Chief Minister issued instructions for third-party audit of the steps taken against dengue and said that a committee be constituted for improving anti-dengue plan. He said that the committee should review the whole system and submit its recommendations in the light of which immediate reforms be introduced for further improvement. Shahbaz Sharif expressed indignation over the increase in the number of dengue patients in Rawalpindi and non-implementation of the preventive measures. He reprimanded the concerned authorities and directed that special attention be paid to dengue surveillance in Rawalpindi. He said that though progress has been made in case management in Rawalpindi however there is a need for improving implementation of preventive measures against dengue. He said that provincial ministers, elected representatives and administration should work hard and show results.

Advisor on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Chief Secretary, Addl. Chief Secretary, Secretary Health and Local Government, dengue specialist Wasim Akram, Dean Institute of Public Health Prof. Moaz Ahmad, Commissioner Lahore Division, Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University and concerned officials were present while Provincial Minister for Labour Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, Members National and Provincial Assemblies, Commissioner and DCO and concerned officers of Rawalpindi Division participated in the video conference.

The Chief Minister while addressing a high level meeting to consider necessary steps for controlling Ebola virus directed that concerned departments and institutions should remain fully alert in view of this threat. He said that necessary arrangements for screening of Ebola virus are necessary at airports. The Chief Minister issued instructions for setting up a steering committee headed by Chief Secretary and directed that the committee should submit recommendations regarding preventive measures against Ebola virus, promotion of public awareness, coordination with federal government and clinical management. A specialist doctor of World Health Organization gave a detailed briefing on Ebola virus and preventive measures.

Later, Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq presided over a meeting of Cabinet Committee against dengue at Civil Secretariat today. Additional Chief Secretary Punjab Amir Sohail, Commissioner Lahore Division Rashid Mehmood Lagrial, District Coordination Officer Lahore Capt.(R) Muhammad Usman, Additional Director General Health Epidemic Control Dr. Islam Zaffar, Incharge Chief Minister Dengue Research Cell Prof. Wasim Akram, Dean IPH Prof. Dr. Nawaz Ahmad, Senior Officers of concerned departments, Incharge Officers of Town Response Committees, Pir Ashraf Rasool MPA, officers of Metrological Department, Police and EDOs Health of Lahore and Sheikhupura were present.

The meeting reviewed the measures taken against dengue control in the province especially the situation in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Sheikhupura. DCO Lahore informed that outdoor and indoor anti-dengue surveillance is continuing, however due to change in whether, more cases of dengue larvae are being reported from the houses than outdoor. Dr. Islam Zaffar while giving a briefing told that there are five patients of dengue in Mayo Hospital, 65 in Holy Family Hopsital, Rawalpindi, 27 in DHQ hospital Rawalpindi and 13 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital in Rawalpindi. The meeting was further informed that the trend of dengue patients in Lahore and Sheikhupura has reduced however there is a rise in the number of such patients in Rawalpindi. He said that concerned departments and District Government Rawalpindi is focusing in dengue surveillance so as to control the breeding of dengue mosquito. It was further informed that necessary medical facilities are being provided to dengue patients in hospitals free of cost and their proper care is being ensured. Regarding death of a suspected dengue patient at Services Hospital Lahore it was informed that the case has been referred to Dengue Expert Advisory Group (DEAG) for verifying the causes of death and its report will make public.

Khawaja Salman Rafiq while issuing instructions for continuing anti-dengue activities said that all departments are playing effective role for dengue curtail. He stressed that greater efforts are needed to control dengue situation in Rawalpindi. Chief Entomologist Prof. Wasim Akram informed that the movement of dengue mosquito is reduced due to cold weather while the growth of dengue larvae is also curtailed due to which there will be a substantial improvement in the situation during next few weeks.