KARACHI: Sindh caretaker Minister for Health Dr Saadia Virk Rizvi met with project director of the prevention and control programme for dengue in Sindh, Dr Abdul Rasheed Sheikh.

She said that the fumigation campaign has started on priority basis before the monsoon season, according to a statement on Friday.

Dr Rasheed briefed the minister about the objectives and performance of dengue control programme. He said that poor sanitation system and uncontrolled population is the cause of dengue breeding in the metropolis.

“We are coordinating with all authorities including local government department and union council representatives to resolve the matter,” he added.

He informed her that till June 2018, dengue cases reported in Sindh were 519, from 66 sentinel sites of the province. While in 2017, the number of dengue cases reported in Sindh amounted to 2,927, including two deaths.

Karachi division was most affected with 2,889 cases (98 per cent), followed by Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Larkana and Sukkur division with 15, 14, seven and two cases respectively.

He said that according to the programme Sindh has to implement activities in line with case specifics reported by hospitals on a daily basis. This includes visit to the patient’s home for surveillance of potential places of vector both inside and outside, as well as creating awareness in the family. Moreover, fumigation of the house as well as outside area would be carried out.

Dr Rasheed highlighted the importance of the media to increase public awareness and meet the objectives efficiently and effectively. He asked the health minister to initiate an awareness campaign in Sindh through the media as the programme does not have sufficient funds to do so.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2018