Minister for mobilising all departments to curb dengue

LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Health Khawaja Salman Rafique on Monday said that all departments have to be mobilised to deal with dengue virus.

The minister attended the training session of Master Trainers as District Entomologists at the Institute of Public Health as a special guest. Prof Zarfashan Tahir, Prof Anjum and entomologists from across the province participated. The faculty members provided awareness on the preventive measures to prevent dengue fever.

The minister answered the questions of all the entomologists and said that all departments have to be mobilised to deal with dengue virus. The entomologists and technical people sitting here have been directed to compile data of suspected, probable and confirmed dengue patients in government hospitals.

Kh Salman Rafique said that the departments of Pakistan Railways, DHA and PHA should be mobilised. He requested the general public to take precautionary measures to prevent dengue. Surveillance of hotspots is extremely important. Entomologists should provide dengue awareness in their areas.

Provincial Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir said our predecessors were just bragging for four years and did nothing and we are striving to prevent dengue and other viral diseases in the province. Citizens should play their role in preventing all epidemics, including dengue.

The minister expressed these views while addressing the second session of District Entomologists as Master Trainers at the Institute of Public Health (IPH) on Monday. During the second session, the disease calendar containing the diseases was highlighted.

The provincial health minister said that the health system would be made more vibrant and responsive by changing the health cards system. He asked all the doctors, including entomologists to keep their knowledge updated by using new research, new technology and modern study. He said our medical experts are fully capable of facing new changes and challenges.

Kh Imran Nazir assured that all the problems of the dengue employees would resolved on priority basis. The minister was briefed that in 2023, only 10 deaths were reported in Punjab due to dengue owing to effective strategy by the health department and no death reported during this year through better vector surveillance and monitoring.