Departments directed to enforce SOPs for dengue prevention

LAHORE:The Cabinet Committee on Prevention of Dengue, Infectious Diseases and Disaster Management, on Thursday, took notice of the non-cooperation by the allied departments in the anti-dengue activities in Rawalpindi and decided to surrender the negligent and uncooperative officers of these departments.

Provincial Health Ministers Khawaja Salman Rafiq and Khawaja Imran Nazir presided over the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Prevention of Dengue, Infectious Diseases and Disaster Management here at the Civil Secretariat to review the situation of dengue in the province. In view of an increase in dengue cases in Rawalpindi, Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman assigned the duties of monitoring to the secretaries of the relevant departments, asking them to visit Rawalpindi to oversee the anti-dengue activities there.

Addressing the meeting, Khawaja Salman Rafique said that the allied departments must provide full support to control dengue as there is no room for negligence. He said that heads of departments should be active in the field for monitoring, adding that the violation of dengue SOPs could be dangerous for all. He said that surveillance should be intensified at hotspots, including Potohar Town.

Khawaja Imran Nazir said that the increase in dengue cases was due to heavy rains. He mentioned that non-cooperation by allied departments in anti-dengue activities in Rawalpindi is a cause of concern. He said that commissioners, deputy commissioners should head the anti-dengue meeting themselves, and the departments should ensure the presence of focal persons. He said that all departments should implement the SOPs for dengue prevention, and pamphlets should be distributed in schools and colleges to raise awareness.

Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman ordered the authorities to expedite the process of larvae culling. He said that the next 15 days are very important in controlling dengue. He said that in view of the increase in dengue cases, the departments concerned have been directed to remain alert as any kind of negligence in this regard would not be tolerated. The chief secretary also issued instructions to rectify the deficiencies in surveillance, monitoring and reporting.

Secretary Primary Health Nadia Saqib gave a detailed briefing at the meeting. The secretaries of the relevant departments and health officials attended the meeting while all the divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners participated through a video link.