HYDERABAD, Oct 24: An epidemic investigation and response cell will be established at the office of the directorate-general, health services, Hyderabad, under supervision of the director-general.

The decision was taken at a joint meeting of representatives of the World Health Organization, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, and the Sindh health department held here on Sunday. The meeting was held to find out ways and means to check epidemics in the province.

The purpose of the cell will be to diagnose diseases and help district governments in controlling epidemics. The cell will also provide training to functionaries in the health department at different health centres.

The meeting also decided to request the Sindh government to appoint health task forces at provincial, district and taluka levels with a view to controlling any emergency.

Those who attended the meeting included Dr Faizullah Kakar of the WHO, Dr Jalil Kamran of the NIH and Sindh health services director-general Dr Hussain Bux Memon.