Staff Reporter
LAHORE:Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has emphasized that combating dengue is not possible without the active participation of all concerned departments.
He, along with Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir, presided over a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Infectious Diseases, including Dengue and Disaster Management, held at the Health and Population Department on Thursday. The meeting reviewed the province-wide dengue situation, the progress of surveillance activities in high-risk districts, and the implementation of previous directives.
Khawaja Salman Rafique directed that special surveillance be carried out in junkyards and cemeteries within district limits. He said intensified efforts are needed this dengue season, especially in high-risk areas. He further instructed secretaries of allied departments to ensure full implementation of the committee’s decisions.Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir said that on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the dengue situation is being continuously monitored across the province. He directed that water accumulation at construction sites must be prevented and that commissioners and deputy commissioners should personally oversee anti-dengue operations. Cooperative housing societies, he said, should monitor dengue conditions in their areas and circulate awareness questionnaires among residents.Both ministers stressed that no negligence would be tolerated by any department during the dengue season. They emphasized the need for immediate data updates on confirmed dengue cases to enable timely interventions. “Indoor and outdoor dengue surveillance should be carried out as an act of worship,” they stated, adding that dengue awareness questionnaires should also be distributed in schools and colleges every fortnight.Khawaja Salman Rafique further directed that surveillance and larva tracing training must strictly follow SOPs, with 100 percent field staff attendance ensured. He called for third-party evaluation after each training session to enhance capacity building and workforce competency.The ministers also highlighted the need for prompt logistical support in dengue control operations, particularly in high-risk districts. They instructed officials to resolve HR-related, geo-tagging, and dashboard issues on a priority basis and urged all field teams to remain alert.
All commissioners, deputy commissioners, CEOs, and medical experts participated in the meeting via video link.
