Punjab to observe Anti-Dengue Day on Nov 3
- October 30, 2013, 6:32 pm
- National News
- 156 Views
LAHORE, Oct 30 (Online): Punjab government will observe Anti-Dengue Day on November 3rd for enhancing the anti-dengue awareness among the masses.
It was decided in the meeting of Central Dengue Response Committee chaired by Punjab Minister for Education Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan, here on Wednesday.
The mobile teams consisting of public representatives, officials, students, NGOs and Imam Mosques of the concerned locality will visit door-to-door and apprised the people regarding the preventive measures to check dengue.
Besides, MNAs and MPAs of Lahore, Secretaries of concerned government departments, Commissioner and DCO Lahore, principals of different medical colleges, Medical Superintendents of government hospitals, officers of special branch as well PITB attended the meeting.
The Minister directed that celebrities of showbiz and sports also be included in the awareness campaign. He directed that all the government departments should follow the SOPs of Dengue control in letter and spirit.
He said that the government departments have two years experience of all such activities therefore; no leniency on the part of government institutions would be tolerated in ensuring dengue control activities. He said that every life is precious and we have to check dengue at any cost.
While briefing the meeting, Special Secretary Health Babar Hayat Tarrar informed that, at present, 71 confirmed dengue patients are under treatment in different hospitals. He informed that after Lahore the worst affected district is Rawalpindi by dengue. He said that indoor dengue surveillance is being intensified because due to change of weather the mosquito would take refuge inside the houses therefore, the indoor surveillance is very vital to control dengue breeding.
He said that Health Department has deployed additional officials as well as lady health workers for indoor surveillance. Commissioner and DCO Lahore, Secretary Schools, Secretary Information and Culture, Secretary Auqaf, Social Welfare and the officers of Special branch and PITB briefed the meeting about the indoor as well as outdoor dengue surveillance and larvaeciding activities and steps taken for creating awareness by their departments.
Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan directed that regular meetings of Town Emergency Response Committees (TERC) should be ensured under the leadership of local public representatives and all the town officers should ensure their presence. He asked the Secretary Information and Culture to include celebrities of showbiz and sports in the awareness campaign.
He directed the Secretary Social Welfare to chalk out a comprehensive awareness plan for Anti-Dengue Day and the representatives of NGOs, Social Workers, Volunteers also be taken on board for door-to-door awareness campaign. Minister Education also directed that the services of students of schools and colleges as well as girls guides also be utilized for anti-dengue campaign.
He appealed to the people that they should keep their houses clean, remove solid waste and drain out the stagnant water to remove the hot spots of dengue.
Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan said that according to the directions and vision of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, all the resources are being utilized to ensure dengue control, while government departments should continue the anti-dengue campaign vigorously through active community participation.
