KARACHI - As many as 23 more dengue viral fever cases have been detected in Sindh in a week, out of which 21 were reported from Karachi, taking the patients toll to 745 in the province since January 1, 2016. According to a weekly report of Prevention & Control Programme for Dengue in Sindh, at least 23 new dengue fever cases surfaced in the province from June 17 to 23, out of which 21 were reported from Karachi and two from Ghotki. A total 21 new dengue fever cases were detected in Karachi last week, out of which eight were reported from District Central, six from District South, two from District West, two from District East, and three from District Korangi. A total 745 dengue fever cases have been reported since January 2016, out of which 689 were detected from Karachi, 12 Hyderabad, five Sukkur, four Tando Muhammad Khan and Ghotki, three each Dadu, Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar, Khairpur and Larkana, two each Badin, Thatta, Jamshoro, Umerkot, Sanghar, Naushero Feroz, Nawabshah and Shikarpur. One death from dengue was reported from Nawabshah. 

HEALTH DEPT, GERMAN

BANK SIGN PACT

On the directives of Health Minister Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar, an agreement was signed between Sindh Health Department and German Development Bank. Health Secretary Ahmed Bux Narejo and Masooma Zaidi from German Development Bank signed the agreement.

On this occasion, Secretary Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority Dr Zahid Ansari was also present.

Under the agreement, German Development Bank will facilitate three more blood banks in Sindh in term of management information system. KFW will facilitate the SBTA in lab equipments, technical training to HR and waste disposal and technical consultation as well. Dr Zahid Ansari told that it would enhance working capacity of SBTA and enable us to serve the patients in better way.

Health Minister Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar, while lauding the cooperation of German Development Bank in providing safe blood to the patients in Sindh province, has expressed his hope that KFW will continue its coordination to facilitate the poor and deserving patients in the province. He also directed Secretary SBTA to ensure safe blood to the patients and to continue crackdown against illegal blood banks.

The construction work of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre's (JPMC) Ophthalmology Department's building had been completed and inauguration ceremony will shortly be held after Eidul Fitr. An official at Ophthalmology Department, JPMC, told mediamen that construction work had been completed and opening ceremony will be held after Eidul Fitr. He said ground plus two-storey building had been completed under public private partnership.

He said ground plus two-storey Ophthalmology Department consists of 20-bed male ward, eight diagnostic rooms, main control room, special clinics, three operation theaters,  store, four lecture halls, doctors rooms, nurses rooms, laser room and other advance eye treatment facilities.

Official said new building had been completed under public private partnership. He said purchase of diagnostic equipments, furniture and hiring of staff will begin after Eid with consultation of hospital administration. He said OPD patients are expected to increase from 100 to 200 in the department once new building opens.

He said only one association professor was available in ophthalmology department, while posts of professor, assistant professors and resident medical Officers are lying vacant in the department due to some legal issues. Focal Person, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Dr Jawaid Akhter Jamali, was not available for comment.