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LAHORE, Nov 26: There is not a single doctor here who is expert in controlling dengue fever.
“The doctors are passing through the phases of learning,” Allama Iqbal Medical College Principal Prof Javed Akram told a press conference at the Lahore Press Club on Wednesday.
He said a libratory had been set up at the Jinnah Hospital to conduct a thorough research on every new virus, including dengue, and special kits were imported from America. He said for the purpose of purchasing kits to diagnose dengue fever, a fund-raising campaign would be started soon.
He said facilities to conduct postmortem in Jinnah Hospital had been finalised and he had sought permission from the Punjab government so that causes of ‘disputed’ deaths could be determined.
He also pointed out that the cases of those who died due to dengue fever should be re-examined. There were reportedly six deaths due to dengue fever and this possibility could not be ruled out that some deaths were not reported in media.
He said the fund-raising campaign for the preparation of anti-dengue vaccination would be started soon, while two foreign experts would visit Pakistan on Dec 22 to give lectures on the treatment of disease.
Prof Akram said the research centre at Jinnah Hospital also started research on dengue fever. The fever, he said, was not a communicable disease and there was no danger of catching it by sharing food with or touching the affected person.
He said if the awareness campaign against the disease had been launched three years ago there would have been no chance of its spread. He said if proper steps were not taken now the disease could again break out next year.
He said as most of the reported dengue cases hailed from railway installations’ surroundings, it meant the mosquito was breeding in water on railway carriages.
He said public cooperation was necessary to control dengue fever in Punjab since it was not wise to look at the government only for controlling the fatal disease.
PMDC: Prof Dr Javed Akram on Wednesday was elected unopposed as member of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
As many as 372 members from Jinnah Hospital and AIMC supported of Prof Dr Javed Akram.
Dr Akram assured the doctors’ community to raise their voice at all platforms for their rights. Children’s Hospital: The Children’s Hospital has spared a six-bed ward for the dengue patients.
According to a press release, free treatment including platelet transfusion has also been made available to the admitted patients.
Meanwhile, the number of dengue patients has reached 1,250 this year.
