LAHORE - Lahore Commissioner Rashid Mahmood Langrial said that 1,200 volunteers had been hired for anti-dengue campaign to strengthen dengue larvae surveillance to kill dengue mosquitoes at larval stage.
He instructed to use chemical and biological treatments to eliminate dengue larvae from temporary and permanent ponds. The commissioner visited different parks and graveyards of different towns of Lahore and directed town officers to ensure the removal of shrubs which could be the possible sanctuaries of dengue mosquitoes.
Meanwhile, Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Kh Salman Rafiq directed Wasa and PHA to ensure immediate drainage of water for low-lying areas and parks. Chairing a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Dengue, Salman directed the officials to personally monitor dengue-surveillance teams for achieving desired results.
Parliamentary Secretary on Health Kh Imran Nazir, MPAs, Additional Chief Secretary Aamir Sohail Mirza, Commissioner Lahore Rashid Mahmood Langrial, Secretaries, Additional Secretaries of concerned departments, DG Health Dr Zahid Pervaiz, Dean Institute of Public Health Prof Muaz Ahmed, Prof Wasim Akram, DG PITB and senior officers of Special Branch, Wasa and PHA attended the meeting.
The officers of Health Department, Schools Education, Higher Education, Information & Culture, Auqaf, Agriculture, Irrigation, Fisheries, Social Welfare, Environment, PITB, LDA, Lahore Waste Management Company, district officers of Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Multan apprised the meeting of dengue control activities, awareness campaigns, seminars, walks, removal of solid waste, dewatering of ponds and arrangements made for the treatment of dengue patients.
It was informed that so far 32 confirmed dengue patients have been reported.
Salman directed officers to remove grass from graveyards. He directed the Auqaf Department to remove room coolers from mosques. He directed removal of scrapped vehicles parked under open sky the Rawalpindi Police Lines.
Prof Muhammad Ali of Dengue Expert Advisory Group informed the meeting that the patient management training of 200 doctors of private hospitals has been conducted at Services Institute of Medical Sciences.
DG PITB informed that more over one million anti-dengue activities had been uploaded at the dashboard so far. Moreover, the complaints received at the health-line were also been addressed.
Later in another meeting at Civil Secretariat, Kh Salman stressed the need of close liaison between federal departments and Punjab Health Department for effective control of dengue.
“Health Department is ready to provide all technical cooperation and guidelines to the federal departments for this purpose,” he said. The officers of Pakistan Railways, Wapda, SNGPL, Election Commission, NHA, State Bank of Pakistan NesPak, National Savings, Pakistan Postal Service, Supreme Court, Accountant General Punjab, Pakistan Cricket Board, Pakistan Hockey Federation, State Life, PIA, Motorway Police and other agencies attended the meeting.
Additional Director General Health Vector Born Diseases Dr Islam Zafar briefed the meeting about the present dengue situation and steps taken for dengue control.
Kh Salman Rafiq asked the officers of Pakistan Railways to ensure sweeping in workshops and redundant train bogies standing in Gulberg Town area. He also stressed the need for dewatering and removal of solid waste from the railways premises to control dengue breeding.