Birthday of Sri Guru Ramdas Ji

Health
Fighting
Dengue
BUREAU REPORT
H
ealth Minister Surjit
Kumar Jayani has directed
the authorities to join hands
with the civic authorities to ensure
fool-proof preventive and curative
measures against dengue and
malaria besides other vector-borne
diseases.
The dengue scare is spreading
because of a rise in dengue cases
being reported from different parts
of the country.
Accordig to Punjab’s Principal
Secretary (Health) Vini Mahajan,
two persons have died due to
dengue over the past few days
while 1,000 confirmed cases have
been reported from across the
state.
"We are taking all necessary
measures to help check the number
of cases and in this regard we are
also making people aware about the
steps they need to take," she said,
adding, there was no need to panic.
Private hospitals have been directed
to report all dengue cases
and deaths.
"Testing kits are available in adequate
numbers and isolation
wards for dengue patients have
been set up in all civil hospitals...All
private hospitals have also
been directed to use the recommended
kits only," she said.
All civil hospitals are providing
free treatment to dengue patients.
"The Main thing is to prevent
mosquito-breeding, Aedes breeds
in clean water, people should keep
their coolers at homes clean. Water
stored in open pots and other utensils
can also become a breeding
ground for these mosquitoes," she
said.
A call has been given for a
weekly dry day in which coolers
and other appliances should be
thoroughly cleaned.
The Education department has
been asked to organise special
awareness campaigns in schools
during the morning assembly.
The following other measures
have been taken by the Department
of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab,
to fight dengue:
1. 21 SSHs (sentinel surveillance
centres) have been established
where testing of dengue is done
free of cost.
2. Supportive treatment is provided
free of cost to dengue patients in
government hospitals.
3. Entomological surveillance is
being done in the urban areas
and 20188 rooms in 5047 houses
have been sprayed with suitable
insecticides and larvicides.
4. Awareness activities are being
undertaken from State to village
level for awareness of pubic for
prevention of vector-borne diseases.
Workshops are being held
in schools.
5. Dengue wards with mosquito
nets have been established in all
government hospitals.
6. Blood component separators are
available in districts for serious
cases of dengue.
7. Aphresis machines for platelets
are available at Civil Hospital
Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar,
Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and SAS
Nagar.
October 2015
Punjab Advance
21