Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique on Tuesday ordered that anti-dengue activities be continued during Eidul Azha holidays.
He was chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Dengue at Civil Secretariat.
Provincial Assembly Member Kiran Dar, Labor Department Secretary Farhan Ali Khwaja, Higher Education Secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal, Health Services Director General Zahid Perviaz, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Muhammad Usman, Additional Health Secretary Salman Shahid, Health Services Additional Director General Islam Zafar and Institute of Public Health Dean Prof Muaz Ahmad attended the meeting.
The adviser ordered cleaning of graveyards and Eidgahs before the holidays. The campaign against dengue fever should particularly focus on areas where the virus had been detected, Rafique said.
He directed the authorities to prepare a separate plan for eliminating the breeding sites of dengue-carrying mosquitoes during the sacrifice.
The plan should be presented at the next committee meeting on October 2, the adviser said.
Zafar said 118 dengue fever patients had been reported this year; the number had stood at 263 in 2013. He said currently 26 dengue fever patients were receiving treatment at various hospitals. “They are all out of danger.”
Earlier, the DCO briefed the meeting about the steps taken to control the virus. He said a vigorous surveillance of dengue fever hazards was underway at union councils across the city. He said dengue larvae had been being detected at several premises.
On September 29, he said, fogging was conducted at 11 places.
“In September, 770 FIRs were registered, 34 premises were sealed and 294 people were arrested for violating the Dengue Regulations Act.”
Chief Entomologist Prof Wasim Akram said rains were continuing in Rawalpindi and the city was vulnerable to a dengue fever outbreak. He called upon the authorities to particularly focus on Rawalpindi.
He said he hoped that the situation would remain under control if surveillance continued at the current intensity.
Officers from other departments too briefed the adviser on steps they had taken to fight dengue fever.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2014.
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