Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Strengthens Disease Surveillance Amid Rising Vector-Borne Threats

Peshawar, Oct 19 (independent Report):

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has established a dedicated Surveillance Cell to monitor and respond to vector-borne diseases such as chikungunya and dengue. The cell includes key health officials: Provincial Surveillance Officer Dr. Gul Sartaj, LHW Coordinator Dr. Zafar Ali Khan, Surveillance Coordinator Dr. Saad Subhan, entomologists Mr. Haroon Afridi and Mr. Aminullah, alongside technical support staff for real-time data collection and reporting.

The cell will oversee timely data collection from the public and incident-reporting sources, track and trace reported cases, and coordinate immediate response actions. It will also generate daily reports on case trends, complaints, and follow-up activities to prevent further spread of the diseases.

District Health Officer Peshawar emphasized that this initiative aims to strengthen the province’s disease surveillance and reporting system. He highlighted that coordinated monitoring and early detection are critical to curbing vector-borne diseases before they escalate.

The DHO urged residents of Sufaid Dherai and surrounding areas to cooperate with health teams, eliminate stagnant water sources, and promptly report any suspected fever cases.

The Health Department reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health through rapid surveillance, timely intervention, and community awareness initiatives.