LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Khwaja Salman Rafique says the dengue season has begun due to change in weather, so departments and agencies should be ready to combat the spread of the vector-borne disease by taking anti-dengue measures.

The minister, at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Dengue at Civil Secretariat, said on Monday special focus should be on the surveillance of graveyards, junkyards and under-construction sites to check the dengue breeding. Micro planning for indoor and outdoor dengue surveillance should be prepared considering previous years’ experiences and by removing the flaws at operational level for better combating against dengue.

He ordered convening of a meeting of the medical superintendents of teaching hospitals to evaluate arrangements for treatment of dengue patients in state-run infirmaries. Refresher courses for doctors and nurses of both the public and private sector hospitals on case management through the dengue expert advisory group should also be completed at the earliest.

Departments should immediately inform the cabinet committee regarding their financial as well as human resources needs for dengue control activities.

Earlier, Additional Director-General of Health Services Dr Farrukh Sultan briefed the participants on the latest dengue situation in the province, training of doctors and staff, status of equipment and spray pumps besides fogging machines. He also briefed about the stock position of insecticides used in mosquito spray.

Meteorological department experts said that minimum night temperature had reached up to 15 degree Celsius due to change in weather, which was very conducive for dengue breeding.

DIALYSIS MACHINES: The minister also inaugurated the extension block of the dialysis unit at the Government Teaching Hospital, Shahdara.

Medical Superintendent Dr Pervaiz Imtiaz said previously 14 dialysis machines were installed in the unit while another 10 such machines had been donated by the Patients Welfare Society of the hospital.

He said that due to provision of latest diagnostic and treatment facilities, the turnover of patients from Narowal, Muridke, Gujranwala, Shakargarh and other adjoining areas were also getting benefit from the hospital.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2017