Staff Reporter
Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid said here on Saturday that an increase in dengue cases is being witnessed in the wake of changing weather over the past six weeks with Lahore reporting 1603, Rawalpindi 208, Attock 20, and Sargodha 15 cases.
Speaking at a press conference at Chief Minister Secretariat, the Health Minister said four lives have been lost since January 2021 in the province.
Present on the occasion were Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Imran Sikander Baloch, Special Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department Mohammad Ajmal Bhatti and Consultant Professor Asad Aslam Khan.
The Health Minister said that Punjab hospitals were catering to dengue and COVID-19 patients simultaneously.
She said, “Beds have been increased in High Dependency Units of Punjab. In public sector hospitals of Lahore, 530 beds have been reserved for Dengue patients and 138 beds have been reserved in HDUs.
In Lahore, 190 patients are under treatment in public sector hospitals and 81 patients are admitted in private hospitals. The government has made timely arrangements to keep people safe from dengue.
Since January 2021, as many as 15 cabinet committee meetings have been held to review dengue situation in which besides Minister, Chief Secretary, Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners have been reviewing the situation.
Out of 8 million homes in Punjab, and 3.5 million homes in Lahore, most of these have been checked by surveillance teams.
In Lahore 31,000 homes were identified vis-a-vis dengue larva. Case response were initiated at 500,000 homes. The areas most affected by dengue are DHA, Cantt, Johar Town, Allama Iqbal Town.
Secretary Primary and Secondary healthcare Department Imran Sikander Bloch has discussed with stakeholders measures to intensify surveillance in meeting with Corp Commander Lahore. In DHA, Health Department teams are working in collaboration with local administration.”
Dr. Yasmin Rashid further said, “In all public sector hospitals, adequate stock of medicines are available for treatment of dengue patients. We are providing free medicines for dengue patients in private hospitals.
All private labs of Punjab shall charge only Rs. 90 for dengue tests across Punjab and a letter has already been issued. This test can only be conducted on recommendation by a doctor. Separate dengue counters have been set up in all hospitals of Punjab.
Treatment on a consistent protocol is being given to dengue patients. Dengue and corona patients ate being kept in separate and isolated wards.
Overall 747 beds have been reserved for Dengue patients. We are witnessing a decline in the fourth wave of the Corona Pandemic. In the last 24 hours, 524 Corona cases have been reported in Punjab and 24 patients have lost their lives.
More than 18,000 Corona tests have been performed in the last 24 hours. I want to congratulate our Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners for vaccinating such a large number of people. So far more than 47.5 million people have been vaccinated.
Adequate stock of Corona vaccine is available in the province. Currently 15 million doses of vaccine are available in stock. Overall 9000 fake entry cases have been identified after which 12 cases were filed and 16 people have been arrested.
In total, 79 disciplinary proceedings were initiated resulting in suspension of a number of employees. The NCOC has now changed its procedure. We are making all out efforts to prevent fake entries. ”
