Karachi:Commissioner Karachi called a meeting to review the outbreak of dengue in the megacity. The meeting also reviewed the issue of stray dogs and rising number of rabies deaths.
The meeting co-chaired by the Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani and Secretary Health Saeed Awan, issued high alert to the concerned departments and hospitals and assigned special duties to deputy commissioners to play their role to provide support to institutions to check spread of dengue virus.
The meeting decided that all deputy commissioners will undertake immediate actions making all stakeholders active and concerned. It was decided that relevant departments including the Health department, Programme Manager of Dengue control, KMC, DMCs and Cantonment Boards would make all-out efforts for taking preventive measures and to ensure those suffering from the dengue get better treatment and facilities.
It was decided that all deputy commissioners would form teams for taking preventive measures. Awareness campaign would also be necessary. Building sites and tyre shops and other breeding points of mosquitoes would be properly checked.
The meeting also took the notice of reports showing the rising number of stray dogs in the megacity and the dog bite cases being reported in the province. It decided that the issue will be addressed on priority.
The meeting was attended among others by Dr. Naseem Salahuddin, Head Department of Infectious Diseases at The Indus Hospital (TIH), Medical Superintendents of the various major hospitals including JPMC, Civil Hospital, Abbasi Hospital, Indus Hospital and hospitals being run by the Cantonment boards, Senior officials of health departments, Direcot Health, Project Manager Dengue control program, Additional Deputy Commissioners of all districts, Senior Director Health KMC, Senior Director Recreation KMC and others.
It was decided in that vaccination of stray dogs would be carried under a comprehensive plan under the guidance of Department of Infectious Diseases at The Indus Hospital (TIH) as per advice of WHO. Training programs would be conducted in all key public hospitals in the city as well as in the province including JPMC, Abbasi Hospital and Civil Hospital.