“Dengue Prevention & Control in Sindh” held meeting presided over by the Secretary Health

Sameer Nazir
KARACHI: A meeting on “Dengue Prevention & Control in Sindh” held under the chair of worthy Secretary Health, Mr. Iqbal Durrani, on Thursday April 10th 2014 in the Committee Room of Heath Department to review the Dengue current situation and appraise all stake holders on steps initiated by Health Department in the context of the regional experience.
The Meeting was attended by Special Secretary Health (Admin) Dr. Mansoor Abbas, Secretary Agriculture, Secretary Education, Administrator Karachi, Additional Commissioner Karachi, Deputy Commissioner East, Deputy Commissioner South, Director General Health Sindh, ADIG Police, Additional Secretary (Technical), Operational Officer WHO, EDO Health Karachi, Senior Director Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Director General Fishery, Program Manager Malaria Control Program and All the Town Health Officers of Karachi.
The forum had a detailed review of the current situation, issues faced in the past year, like efficacy of the insecticides, visibility of the program, gap between the reported and suspected cases, biological control of the disease, availability of the trained staff and effective monitoring.
Secretary Health informed the forum that a “Three Months Emergency Action Plan” has been developed, in which monitoring of all field based activities and reporting through Real Time Surveillance Technology such as SmartPhone & Vehicle tracking through GPS & GSM Connectivity. While field based Microplans will be developed & implemented in the light of the research conducted by Defence Science & Technology Organization (DESTO). The field plan will be more focused with GIS facilities for which the Health Department is soon going to sign an MoU with SUPARCO and DESTO.
He further added that, the department is also formulating an Advisory Committee on Dengue, which will comprise of representatives from leading Public and Private sectors health facilities. The first meeting for this Advisory Committee is scheduled to be held on Monday 14th April 2014. This meeting will also be attended by Vice Chancellors of all Medical Universities.
Dr. Shakeel Mullick, Focal Person Dengue Surveillance Cell informed the forum about the trend of the disease. He said in 2014 the number of cases reported in the first 3 months is on higher side as compared to cases reported in past years. This trend needs more timely response and coordinated efforts from all stake holders from the planning stage.
Director General Health Services, Sindh ensured the implementation of Dengue Regulations formulated for the vector control through the Health Inspectors. ADIG Sindh extended his full support for the legal implementation of this Regulation, this will help in the fixing the responsibilities for vector control from the level of departments/ organizations to the community.
Worthy Secretary Health directed to develop SOPs, highlighting the role of all Line Departments / Ministries for the Prevention and Control of Dengue in the Province. He also asked DG Fishery to arrange the fishes for the biological control of the disease for 03 months emergency action plan which will then converted into 04 years detailed program to cover all of Sindh.