LAHORE - Adviser to Chief Minister on Health, Kh Salman Rafiq has said that officers of all concerned departments should take steps against dengue with a new vigor and determination so that the situation can remain under control during dengue season.
He said that efforts are being made against dengue for the last six years and there is no room for laxity in this regard. He said that action will be taken against those showing negligence.
He was presiding over a meeting of Cabinet Committee on dengue control at Civil Secretariat on Thursday. Additional Chief Secretary Shumail Ahmed Khawaja, Members Assembly, Secretary Specialized Care Najum Ahmed Shah, Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Ali Jan Khan, DCO Lahore Capt (r) Muhammad Usman, Incharge Chief Minister Dengue Research Cell Prof Waseem Akram, Dr Somia Iqtidar, DG Health Dr Mukhtar Hussain Syed and officers of all concerned departments were present on this occasion.
Additional Chief Secretary Shumail Ahmed Khawaja directed that a close contact should be maintained with Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce for dengue surveillance in ceramic industry and industrial areas of Gujranwala. He further directed that coordination with Islamabad Development Authority and Cantonment Boards Officials is essential for dengue control in Rawalpindi.
He said that government departments should appoint senior officers as focal persons for the meeting on dengue and officers should not be unnecessarily changed for this purpose. He said that community participation is of vital importance for overcoming dengue problem. He said that Auqaf Department should acquire the services of Ulema while local bodies representatives should also be included at union council level in the dengue control program for promoting awareness among the people. Additional Chief Secretary directed all departments to complete arrangements for dengue till Feb. 10.
Kh. Salman Rafiq directed that the meetings of Town Response Committees should be started once a week so that micro planning of dengue surveillance could be monitored. Kh Salman Rafiq said that after experience of six years, all departments should have complete knowledge about dengue control.
He directed that except for unavoidable reasons, senior officers should ensure their presence in the meeting of cabinet committee. Member DEAG Dr Somia Iqtidar informed about the training program of doctors with regard to patient management. Officers of Gujranwala, Multan, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi through video link highlighted the steps taken with regard to dengue surveillance in their respective districts.