LAHORE - Stressing upon the need of taking necessary precautionary measures at individual level to combat dengue, Punjab Minister for Health Khalil Tahir Sindhu has said that the government has finalised arrangements for controlling the menace this season.
Addressing a press conference at Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Wednesday, he said that the atmosphere was conducive for breeding mosquitoes and there was a need of taking measures at all levels to curb the menace of dengue.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Secretary Health Hassan Iqbal, Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Prof Faisal Masood and government officials were also present.
To a query, Rana Sanaullah said that he was not aware about delay in payment of salaries to the staff of dengue control wing. If it was true, he said, the government would pay the salaries before Eid.
Khalil Tahir Sandhu said that dengue was a social issue and the role of masses was important in controlling the menace.
Meanwhile, chairing cabinet committee meeting held to review the dengue situation in Punjab, the minister cancelled holidays of dengue staff and directed continuing vector surveillance and larvaeciding activities during Eid days.
He said that banners pertaining preventive measures and travelling instructions should be displayed at bus terminals for the awareness of passengers.
He also directed continuing vigorous awareness campaign. He said that all DCOs should arrange awareness campaign regarding dengue through cable operators in their respective districts.
Briefing the meeting, Special Secretary Health informed that 20 confirmed dengue cases have been reported throughout the province during the last six months. He said that due to heavy rains, the chances of mosquito breeding have increased and larvae have been detected during vector surveillance. He directed enhancing vector surveillance to check dengue spread.
Prof Faisal Masood disclosed that over 500 dengue cases have been reported from Karachi alone. He urged people to refrain from travelling during Eid holidays, especially those suffering from any kind of fever. He said that people should prevent themselves from mosquito bite and use anti-mosquito spray, mat in their houses and to wear full sleeve clothes while going outside. He said that repellant should also be applied for prevention from mosquito bite.
DCO Lahore informed that special instructions for solid waste management have been issued for Eid holidays. He said that civil defense staff has also been engaged in anti-dengue activities. The meeting was informed that spray and fogging machines in all the districts were fully functional and sufficient stock of medicines/chemicals was available.
The senior officers of Local Government, Higher Education, School Education, Food Department, Forests and Fisheries, Cooperative, Information, Culture Department, Additional Commissioner Lahore, Special Branch and other officers briefed the meeting about the activities regarding dengue eradication campaign.