Conjunctivitis Prevention: Punjab Health Department Issued Guidelines

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Islamabad: The Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department in Punjab has issued an advisory as cases of pink eye infection continue to surge in various cities across the province, informed Primary and Secondary Healthcare Punjab Minister Dr Jamal Nasir.

Dr Jamal Nasir said on Saturday that the Punjab Health Department has alerted all hospitals in the province to make maximum arrangements in their ophthalmology and outpatient departments.

Healthcare Minister warned for timely conjunctive preventative steps to decrease the risk of becoming infected and advised patients to refrain from self-medication to cure the condition.

Many people infected with the disease are not seeing a doctor, while others are resorting to self-medication which can prove injurious to the patients’ eyes. Therefore, people should avoid self-medication, Dr Jamal added.

Pink-eye is spreading rapidly in densely populated cities where people are exposed to unfriendly environments, such as factories, bazaars, markets, and shopping plazas, Dr Nasir further said.

Patients are advised to use prescribed eye drops and tissues for cleansing their eyes, with the option of using cold water for temporary relief, he added.

Health Minister stressed using hand sanitizers and cautioned against touching one’s eyes without thoroughly washing hands.

Maintaining mutual distance and staying home are the most effective precautions in the prevailing situation, Minister Nasir suggested.

Minister urged all patients with eye diseases to visit government hospitals where the eye specialists have been asked to remain on duty.