Control of common infections: health department sets up surveillance, epidemic response cells

In a bid to prevent and control diseases by carrying out necessary epidemiological measures and providing prompt technical advice to the districts regarding prevention and control of common infections in the province, Punjab health department has established provincial and regional surveillance and epidemic response cells.
These cells would also help control epidemics of gastro-enteritis, malaria, measles, dengue fever and fengue haemorrhagic fever in the coming monsoon season. In the wake of forecast of 10 percent more rains in coming monsoon season, health department has directed all the district officers of the department as well as surveillance and epidemic response cells to remain high alert to cope with any eventuality. The EDOs Health and District Officers Health have been directed to give special attention to the high-risk areas, especially the flood-affected districts of the previous year.
The 'Provincial Surveillance and Epidemic Cell' will work directly under the supervision of Director General Health Punjab. Director Health CDC will be the convenor of the cell and epidemiologist of Punjab Institute of Public Health Lahore, Bacteriologist to government of the Punjab IPH, Additional Director Health Malaria and Additional Director Health Education would be the members of the cell. The Cell would physically visit the affected areas in collaboration with the regional surveillance /Epidemic Response Centres established at each Medical College to provide back-up technical support and medical kits as well as human resource for epidemiological activities.
Regional surveillance and epidemic response cells have also been established at each medical college to cater the needs of the attached districts to control epidemics of gastro-enteritis, malaria, measles, dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever. Head of the department of Pathology of the Medical College concerned would be the convenor of the cell whereas head of the department of community medicine, one professor of medicine and one Professor of Paediatrics of the same college would be the members of the cell.