Khawaja Salman Rafique, Provincial Minister for Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education, presided at the Friday 13th Cabinet Committee for Prevention of Dengue, Infectious Diseases and Disaster Management meeting in Lahore.
A video link was used to bring together the Deputy Commissioners from Rawalpindi and Attock and Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Gujranwala Professor Waseem, and commissioners. The Sahiwal Teaching College principal, Prof Imran Khan, and Vice-chancellor of Rawalpindi Medical University, Dr Umar, also participated.
Khawaja Rafique stated that the dengue cases in Rawalpindi have declined due to the administration’s hard work. In the past 24 hours, 112 dengue cases have been reported in the province. This year, 4,026 dengue cases and nine deaths were reported.
The minister directed the launch of an awareness campaign about dengue. He also instructed improving the treatment capacity in government hospitals throughout the province. A plan of action has been developed. The meeting heard that the dengue situation is improving in Lahore due to improved surveillance.
Khawaja Rafique stated that the hospital will have all the necessary equipment and medicines. Authentic data must be available to help control dengue. The data can then be analyzed to determine the best course of action. In a briefing, Provincial Secretary of Primary Health Nadia Saqib and other officers informed the audience that over 200 private clinics had been shut down for failing to report dengue cases.
