Ministers order intensifying dengue surveillance

LAHORE:Provincial Health Ministers Khawaja Salman Rafique and Khawaja Imran Nazir directed the administration of sensitive districts to remain alert for dengue control activities.

Provincial Health Minister and Chairman Cabinet Committee Khawaja Salman Rafique and Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir presided over the fifth meeting on dengue and infectious diseases. Both the ministers reviewed the dengue situation in detail during the meeting. Secretary Health Ali Jan Khan gave a detailed briefing on infectious and epidemic diseases.

Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said that after the recent rains, the administration of sensitive districts will have to work harder. Commissioners and deputy commissioners themselves monitor the anti-dengue operations. Anti-dengue surveillance activities should be increased in the sensitive districts, including Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad. All the secretaries should ensure the implementation of the decisions taken in the meeting. The health department is adopting an effective plan to prevent dengue and other diseases. So far, 176 confirmed cases of dengue have been reported in Punjab this year. Dengue medicines are available in government hospitals.

Kh Imran Nazir said that different strategies should be adopted for dengue-affected districts. Instead of recruiting dengue workers, volunteers should be hired at the street level. Conduct DURC and TURC meetings regularly at primary level. MPAs should be made supervisors at Union Council level in anti-dengue activities. The reporting of dengue cases in hot weather is a cause for concern. Dengue cases are expected to increase after the recent rains. More surveillance is needed. Dengue can be eradicated only by working on an emergency basis.

Meanwhile, Provincial Minister and Chairman Cabinet Committee on Law and Order Khawaja Salman Rafique presided over a meeting to review Muharram security arrangements in the Interior Department.

In the meeting, the arrangements for ensuring peace during Muharram were reviewed in detail. Punjab Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal briefed the meeting about the issued SOPs and arrangements. On this occasion, Provincial Health Minister and Chairman Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, Khawaja Salman Rafique, expressed that extraordinary security arrangements would be ensured during Muharram. He said that powers were given to the deputy commissioners in this regard. The use of loudspeakers against the law will be prohibited. Kh Salman Rafique directed that special security cover should be given to women's majalis. He said that the peace inter-Muslimeen and peace committees would play a dynamic role throughout the province. A central control room has been established in Punjab Home Department for Muharram security. Members of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order also visited the central control room and reviewed the reports. In the meeting, it was directed that arrangements should be made for the Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh and Baba Fariduddin Masood Ganj Shakar.