With the reporting of 6 new dengue cases in Karachi on Friday, the number of hospitalised dengue patients in the city jumped to 190 in the ongoing year, raising fear among people of the epidemic.
Keeping in view the surging cases of dengue in Sindh which has touched an alarming figure of 190 cases in nine months of the current year, healthcare experts have warned of a dengue epidemic in the province if urgent and solid preventative steps are not taken by the concerned authorities. In charge of Sindh.
Health Department's Dengue Surveillance Cell Dr Suresh Kumar informed PPI that currently 17 dengue-inflicted have been admitted in different hospitals of the province with one patient in Nawabshah, one in Tando Mohammad Khan, two in Naushero Feroze, while remaining 13 admitted in different hospitals in Karachi.
Sources in the Health Department told that isolation wards were merely operating in Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) and Qatar Hospital running under the provincial government, while in remaining state-run hospitals of Sindh, no such facility being run. It is also learnt that the facilities for patients in these government-run hospitals are not satisfactory as provision of platelets to deserving patients are not being provided.
On the other hand, CDGK EDO Health Nasir Javed informed that isolation ward consisting of 40 beds has been established at CDGK-run hospital-Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. For taking preventive measures of the epidemic fever, he said, the fumigation campaign in all 18 towns of the city had been running successfully.
Director General Health Sindh, Dr Hafeezul Haq, when contacted, said he has already issued directives to all teaching hospitals to set up special isolation wards for the dengue patients. He said the blood banks in the whole provinces are also directed to provide all out facilities to the dengue patients. He said dengue testing and treatment facilities would be available in all major government hospitals free of cost. He warned of stern action against all medical superintendents of concerned hospitals if they are found negligent in taking necessary precautionary measures for eradicating dengue.
Former Secretary General Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Dr Habib-ur-Rehman Soomro said that the dengue fever has become a regular feature of disease burden in our country, particularly Karachi, due to failure of administration to take long-term steps. He said dengue eradication is a long-term strategy, mainly based on raising awareness about the viral diseases amongst people, as the government alone could not overcome the issue alone. He said dengue could be eradicated when we end their breeding grounds.
He said in this regard it is the responsibility of municipal authorities to improve sanitary conditions and show zero tolerance against accumulated rainwater or stagnant gutter water standing on roads and streets. He said proper disposal of garbage is essential to improve cleanliness in Karachi.
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