ELIMINATION OF DENGUE IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT PUBLIC COOPERATION

September 4, 2012 Others, September 2012 Leave a comment

Dengue fever is not a new disease. For the last several decades, dengue virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, has remained a nuisance and a source of serious medical problems in many countries.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than two billion people across the world become victims of dengue and 1.8 billion (almost 70%) of them live in Asian countries.

Dengue virus is transmitted with the bite of a female mosquito namely Aedes Egypti, bites. This mosquito, unlike others, breeds in clean water. Therefore, its effective control is possible only through a well coordinated public awareness campaign to guide people and make sure that they keep their surroundings clean and keep their water pots or tanks covered. Children and people having weak health are particularly vulnerable to this disease.

Being a completely curable disease, dengue fever, can be effectively treated within seven days through proper rest and using simple medicine such as Panadol and Paracetamol. But, the patient may have to face serious trouble if he does not take appropriate preventive measures or remains unable to get proper medical treatment. If a person, already affected by this ailment, again catches the dengue fever, he may have internal bleeding; and in that condition, he has to be given fresh blood and platelets (Tiny particle of protoplasm found in vertebrate blood; essential for blood clotting). In spite of the fact that death rate due to this disease is less than one per cent, there is a considerable amount of panic among the people about it.

In Punjab, this disease was for the first time attacked Noshehra in district Khushab in 2003, but at that time, it remained confined to that small area. After two years of calm, some dengue cases were reported from Lahore and Rawalpindi on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha in 2006. Travelling of infected people from Karachi to Lahore and other cities was the main cause behind. In Lahore, dengue patients were found near Railway Station and Shadbagh locality, while in Rawalpindi, dengue cases were reported from surrounding areas of Nullah Lai. Number of patients increased slightly in 2007. However, in 2008 and 2009, only 1407 and 120 dengue cases, respectively, were reported from different parts of Punjab. But in 2011, dengue fever spread as a deadly epidemic, which claimed the lives of more than three hundred persons and more than 25,000 were confirmed as its victims.

It was a challenging situation for the Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and the provincial government. The Chief Minister courageously took up this challenge and took highly appreciable steps on emergency basis for the control of dengue and the treatment of people affected by it. International dengue experts from Sri Lanka, Thailand and other countries, were immediately brought to Lahore because they have been coping this menace for the last five or six decades. By dint of the untiring and relentless efforts of the Punjab Chief Minister and invaluable guidance of foreign experts, the provincial government successfully checked the spread of this epidemic. With a great deal of hardwork and professional commitment, Sri Lankan experts performed their duties, guided local experts and doctors in the case management of dengue patients. A protocol was formally prepared for the treatment of such patients. On the instructions of the CM Punjab, High Dependency Units (HDUs) were set up in all hospitals for dengue patients and necessary training was imparted to doctors, nurses and paramedics. Government provided free of cost CBC blood test facility in all government hospitals while private hospitals and laboratories were directed to charge only 90 rupees for this test. Same facility has been provided again this year and any case of non-cooperation at any level can be reported to the concerned authorities on the helpline number 0800-02345. Moreover, last year, general physicians working in private hospitals were also trained in government hospitals and Chief Minister Dengue Research Cell was also set up for conducting research on Aedes Egypti. Besides, Dengue Experts Advisory Group (DEAG), comprising senior professors and headed by renowned physician and Principle Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Professor Faisal Masood, was also created. The group is working very actively and efficiently; and whenever a new suspected dengue case is noticed, the doctors are there to conduct necessary tests to decide whether he is suffering from Dengue or not.

Being a completely curable disease, dengue fever, can be effectively treated within seven days through proper rest and using simple medicine such as Panadol and Paracetamol.
As per the instructions of CM Punjab, all the required paraphernalia have been provided to the district governments for coping with any possible outbreak of dengue. All district governments have got ample stocks of fogging machines, spray pumps and necessary insecticides. The 2011 massive outbreak of dengue was out of the blue for the people as well as the government of Punjab and medical experts also did not have sufficient information about it. On the special instructions of the CM, medical experts were sent to Sri Lanka and Thailand for training to combat dengue. Now, they are the master trainers and providing useful training to the local medics and others persons for controlling the spread of dengue virus and treating dengue patients. In addition, upon the orders of Chief Minister, a separate Dengue section has been set up in the Department of Health headed by Additional DG Vector Born Diseases. In the light of last year’s experiences, CM Punjab and all concerned departments are working actively for the control and eradication of dengue virus. Vector surveillance, disease surveillance and larvae siding are being done incessantly. All the Town Response Committees, chaired by the elected public representatives, have also been made active again.
In spite of these laudable steps and utilization of all available resources, public awareness is of utmost importance for the prevention of diseases especially, dengue. Government always need full public cooperation for tackling the problems. But it is extremely important in case of dengue, because experts opine that dengue as a social problem is much important than a medical problem as it cannot be eradicated without creating public awareness. Keeping it in view, the Punjab Government and its Health Department have launched a vigorous public awareness campaign. As a part of this campaign Print and electronic media are being extensively used by the government, Moreover, Lady Health Workers and CBC supervisors are delivering handbills and leaflets to all homes. In addition, more than fifteen thousand government-trained Dengue Volunteers are also going door-to-door. Besides, urbanites are also being informed about the preventive measures for controlling dengue. People are being repeatedly told that complete eradication of dengue producing mosquitoes should be their top priority and they should not allow water to remain stagnant in their homes and streets. Water tanks, tubs and other utensils of water should be kept covered and water should not be stored for a long time. Water should be immediately expelled from old tyres, flowerpots, fountains and other such things, to stop breeding of this mosquito. Mosquito repellant sprays should be used inside the homes. As, this mosquito bites in morning or at evening, people should, therefore, adopt precautionary measures in these hours in particular. Park-goers should put on full dress, to avoid the mosquitoes bite. Use of mosquito repellent lotions on hands and faces is also highly advised.
Lady Health Workers and CBC supervisors are delivering handbills and leaflets to all homes. In addition, more than fifteen thousand government-trained Dengue Volunteers are also going door-to-door.
Government steps and strategies along with massive public awareness campaign have been very effective, as only a few dengue cases have so far been reported this year. This year, the situation so far, seems well under control. But instead of being complacent, we should be very vigilant and monitor the situation from moment to moment. Government efforts can bear fruit only when they receive full public cooperation. Besides being a public duty, it is the responsibility of every individual to keep a strict watch on the situation prevailing inside his home and its surroundings and ensure a neat and clean atmosphere for eliminating all chances for the growth of mosquitoes. The crux of the matter is that it can be said that for the complete eradication of Dengue, the role of the public is of greater importance than that of the government.
HEADLINES
  1. Chief Minister’s announcement to continue the Dengue Virus eradication campaign as a movement.
  2. Protection of human lives is our topmost priority and I myself will take part in this campaign. (Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif).
  3. The steps taken by the government this year for the control of Dengue are far more effective than those of last year.
  4. The Chief Minister has directed that Assembly members, provincial secretaries and heads of government departments should daily spend two hours in the field to review the steps being taken in this connection.
  5. There is no fee for the CBC Test in government hospitals, while its fee in private laboratories is only Rs. 90.
  6. In case of non-co-operation, people can file their complaints by using the help line 0800-02345.
  7. The setting up of High Dependency Units throughout the province.
  8. All segments of society will have to play their role for the complete eradication of Dengue Virus.
  9. Change in life style is also essential for the effective control of Dengue virus.
    By: Athar Ali Khan

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