A press report points out that despite a heightened threat of dengue fever outbreak in Karachi and other parts of Sindh, the province's Dengue Prevention and Control Programme remains dysfunctional due to turf battles. MQM's Dr Sagheer Ahmad who took over as Health Minister last May is said to be unhappy about the well-connected secretary health taking several initiatives without his approval. And to avoid taking sides, some of the health department's senior officials have gone on leave. Consequently, everything is in disarray whilst the province faces multiple health challenges, including dengue and the spread of polio and measles viruses. President of the Paediatrics Association warned just the other day that as many as 60 percent of the children countrywide do not receive vaccination against various preventable diseases like polio and measles.
Dengue cases have been on the rise in Sindh for a while. Last year, Dengue Surveillance Cell reported 32 deaths from the disease. The actual number could be higher considering that not all cases are reported. As a matter of fact, the number of people infected by the virus is believed to be several thousand high. In view of the growing threat Sindh's Dengue Surveillance Cell was upgraded about five months ago and renamed Dengue Prevention and Control Programme along with substantial fund allocation. So far it has little to show for its efforts. The spray/fumigation campaign carried out last year has raised questions about the quality of chemicals used. It may be recalled that three years ago dengue virus played havoc in Lahore. It took a herculean effort on the part of the Punjab government to control the epidemic and prevent recurrence by organising intensive spray and fumigation campaigns as well as raising public awareness through the media.
Health authorities in Sindh can surely benefit from Punjab's experience. Initially, there too some mistakes were made in selecting the anti-dengue mosquito spray chemicals, but eventually the effort worked. There is no reason for the same mistakes to be repeated in Sindh. But for the things to move in the right direction the health department must first resolve its own internal problems. Hopefully, that will happen sooner rather than later. Going by the example of Lahore any outbreak of dengue epidemic in a sprawling megalopolis of nearly 20 million would be a nightmare for the government and the people alike. Complacence at this point in time is unacceptable.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Pakistan:Dengue fever - Act before it is too late
A press report points out that despite a heightened threat of dengue fever outbreak in Karachi and other parts of Sindh, the province's Dengue Prevention and Control Programme remains dysfunctional due to turf battles. MQM's Dr Sagheer Ahmad who took over as Health Minister last May is said to be unhappy about the well-connected secretary health taking several initiatives without his approval. And to avoid taking sides, some of the health department's senior officials have gone on leave. Consequently, everything is in disarray whilst the province faces multiple health challenges, including dengue and the spread of polio and measles viruses. President of the Paediatrics Association warned just the other day that as many as 60 percent of the children countrywide do not receive vaccination against various preventable diseases like polio and measles.
Dengue cases have been on the rise in Sindh for a while. Last year, Dengue Surveillance Cell reported 32 deaths from the disease. The actual number could be higher considering that not all cases are reported. As a matter of fact, the number of people infected by the virus is believed to be several thousand high. In view of the growing threat Sindh's Dengue Surveillance Cell was upgraded about five months ago and renamed Dengue Prevention and Control Programme along with substantial fund allocation. So far it has little to show for its efforts. The spray/fumigation campaign carried out last year has raised questions about the quality of chemicals used. It may be recalled that three years ago dengue virus played havoc in Lahore. It took a herculean effort on the part of the Punjab government to control the epidemic and prevent recurrence by organising intensive spray and fumigation campaigns as well as raising public awareness through the media.
Health authorities in Sindh can surely benefit from Punjab's experience. Initially, there too some mistakes were made in selecting the anti-dengue mosquito spray chemicals, but eventually the effort worked. There is no reason for the same mistakes to be repeated in Sindh. But for the things to move in the right direction the health department must first resolve its own internal problems. Hopefully, that will happen sooner rather than later. Going by the example of Lahore any outbreak of dengue epidemic in a sprawling megalopolis of nearly 20 million would be a nightmare for the government and the people alike. Complacence at this point in time is unacceptable.
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