Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr. Zafar Mirza has said that his Ministry was leading all out efforts being made to prevent and contain Dengue virus in the federal capital. Under direction of the Ministry all hospitals are fully geared to manage Dengue cases. Dr. Zafar Mirza said free diagnosis and treatment of Dengue will be given to all patients and no confirm patient will be refused admission. Dengue patients brought from a village contiguous with Rawalpindi have been treated in Holy Family and Benazir Bhutto hospitals and 90 percent have been discharged. There has so far been no fatality from Dengue in Islamabad, he added. The Dengue Control Cell is working round the clock and is in continuous liaison with all concerned departments, public and private hospitals, civic bodies, DMA and MCI. Islamabad Administration regularly hold meetings to review situation and take immediate measures required. Hospital Based Surveillance system is in place as soon as the patient reaches a hospital and confirmed for dengue fever the Dengue Control Cell gets information from the dengue Dash board about patient profile. The Rapid Response Team is immediately sent to the affected area to contain further spread by spraying and fogging in and around patient's home and 48 houses around the home with an aim to kill the adult virus laden mosquitoes. Rapid Response Teams are working since the last 2 months, Dr. Zafar Mirza shared. An aggressive preventive campaign is underway including Identifying and destroying mosquito breeding sites, covering open drinking containers, removal of tyres, shoppers, plastic Bottles and other wastes from roofs, draining water from room coolers and trays of refrigerators. Special teams of sanitary inspectors, malaria supervisors and lady health workers are in the field for the purpose. Additionally social mobilization campaign has been launched through Lady Health Workers to create awareness amongst the local communities to educate them on prevention against dengue and eliminating dengue vector breeding sites inside and around their homes. Dr. Zafar Mirza said highest level of vigilance was being maintained and Dengue Prevention and Control effort was being closely monitored by his Ministry. He called upon the people to adopt preventive measures by maintaining cleanliness in and around their homes, eliminating breeding sites – water bodies, old tyres, bottles and cover open drinking containers. Together we can and we will defeat Dengue was the Minister’s message to the communities. *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
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