Drastic increase in dengue poses threat to lives
Staff Reporter
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - Islamabad—The number of confirmed dengue patients dramatically increased to a large number during 2005 to 2011 affecting countrywide while one-third population of the world is at risk of dengue. Federal minister for Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Mir Hazar Khan Bajarani on Tuesday said this while addressing the concluding session of two-day workshop on national disease surveillance and response system and dengue case management Guidelines.
The workshop was organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) with the collaboration of government of Pakistan and provincial health departments. The minister disclosed that only 699 confirmed dengue cases were reported during the year 1995-2004, while the number had been increased to 55946 from 2005-2011. The minister retreated that after the devolution of ministry of health to the provinces all out efforts would be made setting aside political issues. “The government of Pakistan would implement recommendations by the competent forums/working groups to counter the disease, “the minister added.
Meanwhile, principal Allama Iqbal Medical College and Chairman National Clinical Guidelines Development for Dengue Prof. Javed Akram expressed that one-third population of the world is at risk of the dengue. “We need a miracle to be able to eradicate dengue from Pakistan, “he added. He said that dengue is some different kind of disease in Pakistan as compared to rest of the world. He added that in Pakistan over 95 percent of the adults were affected by this disease whereas, in rest of the world children less than 10 years of age are more vulnerable to this disease.
Moreover, he said that they were looking towards ministry of IPC to put coordinating efforts as the disease would leave larger social impact on bread earner segment of the society. He assured all of the provincial and agency’s health departments that they would spend immediate response on request irrespective of security and political issues. Speaking on the occasion, Director General (DG) health Punjab Dr. Nisar Cheema said that the provincial government learned many lessons from last year.
“All of the gaps were identified and filled by recruiting large number of medics and para-medics, purchasing required equipment including spray pumps to counter dengue fever, “he added. He said that the provincial government has strengthened all district headquarter hospitals and the government will be more affectively able to meet this challenge in future.
DG Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Dr. Fawad appreciated the efforts of WHO and urged that WHO should train human resource and focal persons in FATA for dengue fever. He added that last year all of the reported cases of dengue fever in FATA were managed properly. A total of 65 representatives of health authorities and eminent physicians attended the workshop from the teaching hospital from all provinces, AJK and FATA.
The workshop was organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) with the collaboration of government of Pakistan and provincial health departments. The minister disclosed that only 699 confirmed dengue cases were reported during the year 1995-2004, while the number had been increased to 55946 from 2005-2011. The minister retreated that after the devolution of ministry of health to the provinces all out efforts would be made setting aside political issues. “The government of Pakistan would implement recommendations by the competent forums/working groups to counter the disease, “the minister added.
Meanwhile, principal Allama Iqbal Medical College and Chairman National Clinical Guidelines Development for Dengue Prof. Javed Akram expressed that one-third population of the world is at risk of the dengue. “We need a miracle to be able to eradicate dengue from Pakistan, “he added. He said that dengue is some different kind of disease in Pakistan as compared to rest of the world. He added that in Pakistan over 95 percent of the adults were affected by this disease whereas, in rest of the world children less than 10 years of age are more vulnerable to this disease.
Moreover, he said that they were looking towards ministry of IPC to put coordinating efforts as the disease would leave larger social impact on bread earner segment of the society. He assured all of the provincial and agency’s health departments that they would spend immediate response on request irrespective of security and political issues. Speaking on the occasion, Director General (DG) health Punjab Dr. Nisar Cheema said that the provincial government learned many lessons from last year.
“All of the gaps were identified and filled by recruiting large number of medics and para-medics, purchasing required equipment including spray pumps to counter dengue fever, “he added. He said that the provincial government has strengthened all district headquarter hospitals and the government will be more affectively able to meet this challenge in future.
DG Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Dr. Fawad appreciated the efforts of WHO and urged that WHO should train human resource and focal persons in FATA for dengue fever. He added that last year all of the reported cases of dengue fever in FATA were managed properly. A total of 65 representatives of health authorities and eminent physicians attended the workshop from the teaching hospital from all provinces, AJK and FATA.
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