LAHORE : Punjab Health Secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad has called upon the public health experts to come forward with a comprehensive strategy based on scientific research for complete eradication of Dengue virus to resolve the issue permanently.Fawad called a meeting of entomologists, bacteriologists and other medical experts of the Institute of Public Health, the University of Veterinary Sciences and the Health Department at his office on Monday.He issued these instructions while presiding over the meeting to review the ongoing spray campaign and treatment facilities for Dengue patients. Besides, Additional Health Secretary (Technical) Dr Mushtaq Ahmed Sulehrya, Lahore DCO Ahad Cheema, Health Management Information System Director Dr Muhammad Anwar Janjua, EDO Health Dr Umer Farooq Baloch and District Officer Health Dr Haq Nawaz Bharwana also attended the meeting.
The Health Secretary directed the officers to make efforts to eradicate mosquitoes. Cheema observed that positive results would come within a few days of the campaign and larviciding which started last week. The Health Secretary directed the PHA administration to drain stagnant water from parks and grounds and minimum water should be released in grounds to control mosquito growth. He directed the DCO to chalk out a plan to remove solid waste of sacrificial animals on emergency basis from roads on Eidul Azha. He also directed all executive district officers to ensure disposal of solid waste immediately in collaboration with the administration of their respective districts to check diseases.
The Secretary Health said that under the law, private hospitals were also bound to report to the Health Department on spread of any disease. He directed officers of the Health Department to implement the rules in letter and spirit and collect information on Dengue patients coming to private hospitals so that a solid strategy could be evolved for future planning.Fawad directed that Indoor Residual Spray, fogging and larviciding should be carried out simultaneously for complete eradication of Dengue mosquitoes. On this occasion, DOH Lahore Dr Haq Nawaz Bharwana informed the Secretary Health that health education campaign at school level continued and so far more than 60,000 pamphlets carrying preventive instructions, precautionary measures and symptoms of Dengue fever had been distributed among school children – Dailymailnews
