LAHORE: Principal Post Graduate Medical Institute and In-charge
Lahore General Hospital, Prof. Dr. Tariq Salah-ud-din has said that
dengue fever does not spread by touching. Most of the people are
rushing to hospitals because of panic and fear.
He expressed
these views while addressing a press conference at Lahore General
Hospital, here on Sunday. He said that the over-loaded situation at
teaching hospitals can be normalized by providing diagnostic facilities
of dengue at primary health care units. Public should strictly observe
the preventive measures instead of being afraid of dengue.
He
said that dengue patients have been provided with all possible
facilities at LGH. During last 17 days almost one hundred thousand
people approached LGH for treatment, among whom 63 thousand persons
underwent for the CBC tests. A number of 273 patients were confirmed as
dengue patients, among them, 3 patients could not survive.
Dr.
Tariq said that the hospitals data shows that the ratio of patients
falling victim of dengue is not more than 2 percent, so public should
not be frightened. He said that LGH has made comprehensive arrangements
to face menace of dengue. Hospital’s OPD was decided to be opened 24
hours for the first time in history. Emergency was declared and weekly
offs of doctors and other staff was suspended. Even the nursing
students and dispensers were deputed to look after the patients
canceling their regular classes.
Hospital’s newly constructed
portion is well equipped with all medical facilities was specified only
for dengue patients where 12 CBC machines are functional round the
clock to help dengue patients. Dr. Tariq Salah-ud-din told the
reporters that LGH has capacity of 1000 patients to be treated daily
but presently almost 6000 patients are coming to hospital per day and
being treated by clinical as well as administrative doctors.
Moreover,
a health education programme has also been chalked out for the nursing
students and paramedical staff to train them for awareness campaign
against dengue to be carried out at their residence and mohallah level.
The alumni of PGMI have also contributed by guiding and educating
people through internet and other communication tools, he added.
He
said that LGH administration is spending all the resources on dengue
patients under the dynamic leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad
Shahbaz Sharif who is working relentlessly to curb this menace. The
team of Sri Lankan experts is also being consulted to control dengue
but the basic responsibility lies on citizens to keep their homes
mosquitoes free by using spray, fumigation, mosquitoes repellant and
not allowing stagnant water to be pounded anywhere. Online
