Health experts urged the Sindh government to establish state-of-the-art Vector Control Research Centre in the province to control outbreak of Dengue, Malaria, Chikungunya and other vector-borne diseases in future. This demand was made at Sensitization Workshop for media personnel organized by Prevention and Control Program for Dengue in Sindh at meeting room of Dengue Program. Renowned Microbiologist, Dr. Shahana Urooj, Program Manager, PCPD, Dr. Masood Ahmed Solangi, Additional Program Manger, Dr. Qamar Abbas, Deputy Program Manager, Dr. Gul Muneer Vistro and others were speakers at the event.
Dr. Masood Solangi, Program Manager, Dengue Prevention and Control Programme informed that a 21-day fumigation campaign is being launched in the first week of every month and it will comprised of 8 rounds. The fumigation campaign will be carried out in collaboration with the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). The fumigation campaign plan have been finalized and submitted to Chief Minister Sindh for the special allocation of Rs50 million.
He hoped that the funds would soon be released to the Program which would be spent on the purchase of fuel for fumigation vehicles and chemical required for spraying various neighbourhoods of the sprawling city. the relevant staff of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation would be engaged in the fumigation campaigns, while the Dengue Prevention and Control Programme would accompany them and make follow-up visits of every area after fumigation.
Additional Program Manager, Dr. Qamar Abbass discussed the problems associated with the poor municipal services, unplanned and unregulated development, deficient water supply, solid waste management with consequent water storage, poor sanitary conditions leading to increase breeding of vector mosquitoes Adies. He threw light on their operational plans. He also demanded from the government to depute their Dengue Control Inspectors in every district of Sindh.
Dr. Shahana Urooj underlined the need of surveillance, monitoring and fumigation campaigns throughout the year in Sindh province, especially in Karachi, to control outbreak of vector-borne diseases.
