Rawalpindi - The outbreak of dengue fever has rung alarm bells among the city district government, health and other departments concerned as Allied Hospitals (AHs) received a total of 6,317 dengue suspected patients so far from various localities of the city.
Of 6317, some 873 patients, including 11 children, have been tested dengue positive and admitted to all the three teaching hospitals where they were providing medical treatment, revealed a survey conducted by The Nation yesterday. While, the doctors have also been waiting for results of 907 probable cases of dengue infection. So far a total of 1364 patients have been discharged after given necessary medical treatment in the hospitals.
In last 48 hours, a total of 55 patients have been confirmed positive for dengue fever through NS1 test at the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) so far while the hospital has yet to receive results of 158 probable cases of the infection.
Similarly, Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) doctors are examining 51 confirmed dengue patients and waiting for results of 527 probable cases of the infection while 8 patients were landed in the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital. The doctors in DHQ have been waiting for results of 164 probable cases of dengue virus, according to data collected by The Nation.
The continuous rise in dengue affected patients have exposed the tall claims of the city district government and health department officials which have been seemingly busy in holding meetings and seminars round the clock.
A large numbers of citizens said that dengue infection hit the population badly in the district as the authorities concerned have badly failed in controlling the spread of deadliest dengue infection.
Taking strict notice of the surge in dengue cases in Rawalpindi division, Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shehbaz Sharif reportedly expressed his deep concerns over the performance of local health department and city district government and assigned the task to the key functionaries of his government, including Chief Secretary Punjab, Health Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik, Advisor to CM on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique and dengue expert Prof Masood Rehman, the principal of King Edward Medical College Lahore to monitor the alarming situation emerged after rise in dengue fever cases in the city.
In this regard, a team of aforementioned high-ups of provincial government paid a detailed visit to HFH to review the arrangements being made to tackle the threat. The visiting team was received and briefed by RMC Principal and AHs Chief Executive Prof Dr Muhammad Umar. On the occasion, Medical Superintendents of AHs Dr Arshad Ali Sabir, Dr Asif Qadir Mir, Dr Khalid Randhawa, AHs spokesman Dr Zahid Minhad, Child Specialist Dr Rai Asghar, AMS Admin HFH Dr Tariq Khan Niazi and many other senior doctors. The chief secretary visited various departments of the hospital and enquired after the health of dengue-affected patients.
He later held a meeting with doctors and suggested them to utilise all available resources to tackle the threat of dengue in the district.
Talking to The Nation, Secretary Health Jawad Rafique Malik said that the government was making all-out efforts to control dengue outbreak in the province. He said that special funds have been allocated for machinery, beds and other medicines for dengue patients. He said that a total of 100 extra beds have been allocated in the allied hospitals for meeting any emergency situation in the city. He said that seminars and anti-dengue campaigns have been arranged in the schools and colleges to make public aware about the disease. Earlier, RMC Principal Prof Dr. Muhammad Umar briefed the secretaries about the steps being taken for providing adequate health facilities to dengue patients. He told that all patients have been provided facilities under one roof, including medicines, radiology and other medical tests that too free of cost.
He said that government had allocated Rs70 million for AHs that would be released soon for providing best medical treatment to dengue patients.
Child Specialist Prof Dr Rai Asghar told The Nation that a total of 11 children arrived in the HFH who later confirmed dengue virus through NS1 test. “Of 11, a one-year-old child is also dengue-affected and is being treated in the hospital,” he said.