J-K govt constitues STF to combat dengue, swine flu

The Jammu and Kashmir government today constituted a Special Task Force (STF) to combat dengue and swine flu in the Valley.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, convened a meeting to review the preparedness and measures to curb dengue and swine flu (H1N1 influenza virus) in Kashmir division, an official spokesman said here.
He said the meeting was informed that the government has constituted the STF under the chairmanship of Kashmir's divisional commissioner to combat the diseases in the Valley.
The meeting was further informed that there is no need to panic and the government had already issued health advisory in all leading newspapers.

Health institutions are already prepared to meet any eventuality, the spokesman said.
He said the divisional commissioner directed all the deputy commissioners to hold a meeting in their respective districts to address this problem.

Khan stressed the need to involve chief medical officer (CMO), district health officer and all block medical officers (BMOs) to constitute district level teams to provide awareness camps in all schools, colleges, government offices especially Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and district police lines in a phase-wise manner.
Khan also sought involvement of teachers and local NGOs for awareness drive to curb the diseases.
The spokesman said the divisional commissioneralso directed the health department to organise talk shows on Doordarshan, radio, FM channels and local cables to provide awareness to the people.

Khan asked all concerned departments to work with close coordination so that dengue and swine flu is controlled in the Valley before the onset of winters.