ISLAMABAD: Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) Directorate of Malaria Control (DMC) has decided to launch campaigns every year to control vector borne diseases like dengue and malaria.

With an estimated one million cases of malaria and over 15,000 cases of dengue annually, DMC, in collaboration with a private company Reckitt Pakistan, will work towards preparedness before the mosquito season starts, says a press release issued by the NHS ministry.

The event to announce the partnership and put it into effect took place at the DMC, which was attended by Director of DMC Dr. Mohammad Mukhtar and Reckitt Pakistan director Humayun Farooq.

Over the past few years, Pakistan has reported more than 60,000 dengue cases, a deadly disease that has the potential to impact the lives of millions in Pakistan and has no vaccine, the press release said. Protection and prevention is the best possible cure and with the changing weather and onset of rainfall, all Pakistanis are advised to take all precautions.

Commenting on the partnership, Humayun Farooq said: “By partnering with an entity that has so diligently worked for the prevention and awareness of dengue and malaria such as DMC, we believe we can truly make a change in the way people deal with and view this life-threatening disease.”

Addressing the importance of such collaborations, Dr Mukhtar said: “We are proud to partner with private sector to ensure that we can get the best messaging of prevention to our communities and country.”

More dengue cases surface

A total of 36 people were diagnosed with dengue fever, with 158 suspected cases brought to hospitals in the federal capital and Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

District Health Officer (Islamabad) Dr Zaeem Zia said 12 cases were reported from rural areas and five from the urban localities during the last 24 hours. Two patients each were admitted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and Holy Family Hospital (HFH) while was brought to Federal General Hospital. The remaining 10 were admitted to private hospitals, he added.

Dr Zia said three cases each were reported from Koral and Tarnol, two each from Alipur and Bhara Kahu and one each from Sohan and Sihala. The tally of dengue fever cases in the capital reached 4,421, the DHO said, adding that out of the total, 2,517 patients were reported from rural areas and 1,904 from the urban areas.

During the last 24 hours, indoor residual spray was carried out in 469 houses and fogging was carried out in 19 areas of the capital.

According to data from the District Health Authority (Rawalpindi), five confirmed dengue patients arrived in HFH, 11 in BBH and three in District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2021