Federal Health Minister
Saira Afzal Tarar chaired a high level meeting here today to review the dengue
situation in Islamabad. The meeting was attended by Minister of State for CADD
Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Minister for Specialized Medical Care Punjab Khawaja
Salman Rafiq, Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Punjab Khawaja Imran
Nazir, Secretary CADD, Executive Director NIH, Chief Commissioner Islamabad,
heads of tertiary care hospitals in Islamabad besides other senior health
officials.
The meeting took stock of the current reports of dengue
cases and discussed in detail measures being taken for prevention and control
of dengue in Islamabad.
Addressing the meeting Federal Minister Saira Afzal Tarar
said we need to maintain high level of vigilance to avoid any outbreak situation
in the federal capital. She directed that case response should be essentially
undertaken to ensure that there is proper surveillance especially in the areas
from where dengue cases are reported. She urged senior officials from Islamabad
to work in close coordination for common cause of preventing the residents of
the city from dengue virus.
The Minister said five member team for each union council
in Islamabad should be constituted for surveillance. She asked ICT
Administration to prepare a list of high risk zones. The Minister called for
urgent steps by CDA to ensure safe management of solid waste and cleanliness in
the city. The Minister also constituted a committee under the chair of
Executive Director NIH Brig. Aamir Ikram to coordinate with all stakeholders
and ensure all measures to ensure dengue prevention and control are in
place.
The Minister added that any human resource related issue
in CDA and ICT must be resolved expeditiously to ensure effective response to
challenges like dengue.
Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry Minister of State for CADD said
his ministry was vigilant and all hospitals in the federal capital under his
Ministry were fully prepared to manage and treat dengue patient.
On this occasion, Khawaja Salman Rafiq and Khawaja Imran
Nazir briefed the Minister and shared experience of Punjab Government in
controlling dengue. Punjab offered capacity building to Islamabad health
personnel and access to dengue dash board.
Secretary CADD informed the meeting that a coordination
cell was established in his Ministry on dengue prevention.
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