Dengue Prevention & Control Program remains non-functional in Sindh

Karachi: Sources have confirmed that all dengue prevention & control activities have slowed down in the province especially in Karachi, owing to the poor coordination between public healthcares and dengue program administration. Major public and private hospitals of Karachi have not been sharing Dengue cases and their mortality reports, and the Dengue Prevention & Control Program has become non-functional since its up-gradation.

According to the sources, dengue viral peak season has begun in Sindh from August and is expected to continue till December 2014, but Dengue Prevention & Control Program is still non-functional in Sindh which has put countless lives at stake in Karachi and other parts of province.

Two individuals recently passed away after contracting the Dengue viral fever in Karachi; one at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, and the other at a private hospital. However, the hospitals refused to present the cases to the Dengue Prevention & Control Program officials. Despite the news being aired on various TV channels recently, the Provincial Program Manager maintained an ignorant stance.

Sources confirmed that Sindh healthcare department up-graded Sindh Dengue Surveillance Cell to Dengue Prevention & Control Program roughly seven months ago, and the government had allocated millions of rupees for the purpose of Dengue surveillance and prevention in 2014; however even after the passage of several months, the Program remains non-functional.

On other hand, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had carried out anti-dengue fumigation campaign, but many areas remain deprived of fumigation due to shortage of funds. Representatives said that dengue cases are being reported in different healthcare centers of Karachi on daily basis, but public hospital administrations are not sharing this data with the Program officials.

Sources said the number of dengue cases and related mortalities could be much higher as there was no system in place to record the actual data. Communication and coordination is non-existent between the Dengue Program officials, government departments and the Health services Directorate.

Provincial Program Manager, Dengue Prevention & Control Program, Muhammad Shakeel Aamir Mullick said mosquito-borne dengue virus had claimed eleven lives in 2014 and 775 cases were reported from different hospitals across Sindh.

He said some hospitals are sharing data with the Program administration on regular basis but few public and private hospital managements remain entirely ignorant in this regard. He said notices are being sent to hospitals managements over negligence in sharing data.