DENGUE FEVER IS A MEDICAL AS WELL AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM: PRINCIPAL AMEER UDDING MEDICAL COLLEGE

DENGUE FEVER IS A MEDICAL AS WELL AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM: PRINCIPAL AMEER UDDING MEDICAL COLLEGE

CITIZENS SHOULD KEEP THEIR HOMES, SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT CLEAN AND DRY TO COMBAT DENGUE

Lahore, June 14: Dengue fever is a medical as well as a social problem, citizens should keep their homes and surrounding environment clean and dry to safe from dengue virus. Under the dynamic leadership of CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Punjab will be free from dengue and other infectious diseases. Awareness among the public is necessary to control dengue, medical experts, civil society and the media will have to play their full role in eradicating this disease.

Ameer Uddin Medical College/PGMI Principal Prof. Farooq Afzal expressed these views while talking to media representatives and the participants of the awareness walk organized at Lahore General Hospital (LGH) to raise public awareness about the prevention of dengue virus.

MS Prof. Faryad Hussain, Prof. Nadrat Sohail, Prof. Khurram Saleem, Principal College of Nursing Rubina Inam, DCNS Fazal Lal, Dr. Adnan Masood, Dr. Jafar Hussain Shah, Dr. Muhammad Maqsood, Dr. Abdul Aziz and a large number of nursing officers, students and people belonging to different schools of thought were present.

Farooq Afzal asserted that women associated with the health and education sector should spread awareness about the prevention of dengue virus as well as other diseases and hygiene in their respective communities so that a healthy society can be created. This disease can be controlled only by following the principles of hygiene. He added that stakeholders, civil society and the media will have to play their positive role in creating awareness, so that people can not only stay safe from diseases but also reduce the expenses incurred on treatment.

The principal said that according to the policy of the Punjab government, all medical facilities are being provided free of cost to patients in LGH, diagnostic tests and provision of medicines have also been ensured, the hospital administration is trying to solve the problems faced by the patient’s day and night and all resources are being utilized in this regard. He highlighted that effective measures have been taken by LGH to combat dengue. In a conversation with the media, Prof. Farooq said that spraying will be ensured in LGH on a daily basis to protect health professionals and citizens from the dengue virus.

MS Prof. Faryad Hussain and Dr. Muhammad Maqsood, while talking on the occasion that fever is accompanied by headache, pain in muscles, bones or joints, nausea, vomiting, pain inside the eyes, swelling of the glands and itching are the main symptoms.

Medical experts said that it is possible to eliminate dengue mosquitoes by not allowing clean water to stand, ensuring the use of mosquito nets and sprays, and keeping the environment clean. He further said that dengue mosquitoes breed mostly gathered in clean water on the roofs of houses and other places. Therefore, it is the important responsibility of residents and citizens to eliminate these breeding spots. Other participants also highlighted the precautions to prevent dengue mosquitoes and various protective measures to avoid dengue fever.

The participants in the walk held posters, banners and placards on which precautionary measures regarding the prevention of dengue were listed.