RAWALPINDI: Punjab Minister for Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique on Friday said the heads of all departments should be present in the field to avoid the spread of dengue virus as the coming two months are very critical.

“Strict legal action should be taken against those found negligent in the anti-dengue campaign,” he said at a meeting held to review anti-dengue and anti-polio campaigns along with Rawalpindi Commissioner Aamir Khattak.

The meeting reviewed the current situation of the viruses. The meeting was attended by lawmakers Raja Sagheer, Asma Abbasi and Shazia Rizwan.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, Rawalpindi Medical University Vice Chancellor Dr Mohammad Umer and heads of allied departments were present. Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir, Health Secretary Nadia Saqib and other officers participated in the meeting via video link from Lahore.

Mr Rafique said that we have to standardise our field activities practically rather than just paperwork. He directed that special surveillance should be done in junkyards and graveyards and priority should be given to high risk UCs.

“Third party validation is vital to ensure the campaign quality,” he said. The minister directed private hospitals and laboratories to immediately report dengue affected patients otherwise action will be taken against them. He directed the Healthcare Commission to launch a crackdown on quackery.

He also directed the Wasa managing director to ensure regular supply of water in Chak Jalaldin and other high risk union councils where dengue cases and larvae have been being reported so that people avoided unnecessary storage of water.

Speaking on the occasion, Khawaja Imran Nazir said due to heavy rains, dengue cases were likely to increase from September 16 to 30, for which the citizens and administration have to be vigilant.

He directed that daily 10-minute dengue period should be started in all schools for the awareness of children and dengue pamphlets should be distributed in private housing societies.

In order to make the awareness campaign effective, scholars should be requested to create awareness of the disease in their sermons in mosques. People should be sensitised that fever or any other symptom of dengue should be taken seriously and reported to hospital immediately because late diagnosis makes the case critical.

The chief minister’s focal person on dengue Dr Mohammad Waseem said due to early measures taken by the administration and the continuous efforts, the dengue situation in Rawalpindi was under complete control. Nevertheless, he said we need to take more precautionary measures for the next two months.

Giving a briefing on the latest situation of dengue, health officials said 270 patients had been reported since January 1, 2024. In order to ensure implementation of the SOPs, punitive actions are also being ensured. From January 1 till now, 2613 FIRs, 1899 challans have been registered and 695 buildings sealed in Rawalpindi district for violation of dengue SOPs.

Similarly, Rs1.9 million fines have been imposed on violators. The steps are being taken according to the prescribed SOPs in houses and outdoor places where larvae are reported.

Meanwhile, 33 dengue patients landed in the garrison city hospitals on Friday, taking the tally of the season to 270.

As many as 205 patients have been discharged after treatment from hospitals. One person died and 64 dengue patients are still in hospitals, two of them in critical condition.

Officials said at present 99 patients were admitted to Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital and 64 of them were confirmed dengue patients.

Most of the patients arrived from Dhamial, Dhama Syedan, Dhoke Farman Ali, Dhoke Hassu, Chak Jalaldin, Gangal, Car Chowk, Chaklala Scheme III, Dhoke Kashmirian, Saidpur Scheme and adjoining areas

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2024