“Public awareness is our most important weapon against dengue fever,” Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique said on Monday. “It is only through public participation that we can accomplish this.”
Rafique participated in a dengue fever awareness walk from the Post Graduate Medical Institute, Birdwood Road, to Shadman Chowk. The walk was organised by the Post Graduate Medical Institute Principal. Prof Anjum Habib Vohra, Lahore General Hospital Medical Superintendent Pervaiz Imtiaz, PMA Lahore president Tanvir Anwar, medical students and nurses participated in the walk.
Speaking to media persons later, Rafique said that it was important for people to take precautionary measures against dengue mosquitoes and to keep their houses clean. “We must work together to eliminate all potential dengue mosquito breeding sites,” he said.
Under directions from the chief minister, standard procedures for dengue control have been enforced throughout the province since February 15, he said. Dengue surveillance, larvae-ciding and case response have begun in sensitive districts. He said regardless of the measures the government has taken in this regard, public participation for dengue control is essential to make the anti-dengue fever drive a success. “If people don’t remove dengue mosquito breeding sites from their homes, all our efforts will have been in vain”
Prof Vohra said prevention was the only cure to a dengue fever epidemic. He urged the youth to come forward to create awareness against the disease. He appreciated the Sharif’s efforts and said the number of dengue patients had decreased markedly over the past two years.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2014.