LAHORE: Fearing an increase in dengue cases due to rains, the Provincial Dengue Monitoring Committee on Tuesday directed all the relevant departments to remain alert.
The committee expressed serious concern over the rise in dengue cases in Multan and issued instructions to determine its reasons. The meeting also decided to take action against the field staff over negligence in the anti-dengue activities.
Caretaker Minister for Primary Health Jamal Nasir said that CBC test facility has been provided in all the rural health centres for dengue diagnosis. He said that the Healthcare Commission should play a role in improving dengue reporting from private hospitals.
Caretaker Education Minister Mansoor Qadir said that the increase in dengue cases in Multan is alarming, adding that the reasons for the increase in cases should be determined to control dengue outbreak.
Caretaker Housing Minister Azfar Ali Nasir said that there is a need to improve the performance regarding dengue. He directed that WASAs and the Local Government Department should take special measures for drainage of rainwater.
The Chief Secretary Punjab ordered the Deputy Commissioners to personally oversee the anti-dengue campaign in districts. He said that anti-dengue activities and larva detection data must be ‘consistent’. Under the new SOPs, all the relevant departments should work in a dynamic manner to eradicate dengue.
Secretary Primary Health Ali Jan gave a detailed briefing at the meeting. He said that 248 confirmed cases of dengue, including 73 in Lahore, 59 in Multan, 16 in Faisalabad had been reported this year. The departments of local government and agriculture are performing the duties of third party validation of anti-dengue activities.
The Provincial Dengue Monitoring Committee met at the Civil Secretariat with provincial ministers Jamal Nasir, Mansoor Qadir, Azfar Ali Nasir, and Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman in attendance.
The Additional Chief Secretary, secretaries of various departments and health officials also participated in the meeting that was joined by all the divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners through video link.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023
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