RIYADH: Dengue fever has been brought under control in and around Jeddah and Makkah. It was revealed by the Ministry of Health yesterday.
“We have been successful in our fight against the disease due to an action plan chalked out by Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah and cooperation extended by the government officials working in all relevant departments,” said Dr. Khalid Al-Zahrani, assistant deputy minister of preventive medicine.
Under the direct supervision of the health minister a special team was deployed in the two affected regions to create public awareness about the fever and diagnose and treat the disease without loss of time, Al-Zahrani said. Currently, he said that there is only one case in Jeddah and 33 cases in Makkah.
“The patients are in stable health condition and are being treated well under the care of a team of specialist doctors,” Al-Zahrani said. He recalled that there were 103 cases reported in Makkah and 31 in Jeddah. To implement an effective awareness campaign, health officials will be increased to 450 in Makkah and 500 in Jeddah.
“These educators will visit schools, homes and meet members of the public to tell men, women and children how they should contribute to prevent the spread of the fever. The program, he said, will also be carried out in coordination with Ministry of Information through the electronic and print media.
He said Al-Rabeeah held discussions with Agriculture Minister Fahd Balghunaim and key officials in Jeddah governorate in the fight against the disease. The minister will also hold talks with the secretary general of Makkah governorate this week.
Al-Zahrani said that a team of nine officials from the World Health Organization will visit the two regions to evaluate the situation and exchange experience with the Saudi health officials who are working in this project.
