Dengue prevention: MPA files application against secretary health

Says responsibility of current situation lies with ignorant officials and WSSP.

PESHAWAR: PTI leader and MPA from PK-5 Peshawar-V Yasin Khalil submitted an application to Tehkal police station to register an FIR against health officials on charges of not fumigating his constituency when dengue first became a threat. Secretary of Health Mushtaq Jadoon, DHO Dr Jehangir and two officers of Water and Sanitation Services Programme (WSSP) Nasir Ghafoor and Amin Gul Shinwari are the officials in question.

The application was submitted to the Tehkal SHO and an FIR was not yet registered till the filing of this report.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Khalil said he contacted Jehangir when dengue cases were first reported 25 days ago. “What was his response? He said he did not have a single penny to take any preventive measures,” said Khalil. He added WSSP is responsible for sanitation and they also ignored their responsibility.

“The municipal corporation used the anti-malaria spray earlier and equipment had since been shifted to WSSP. However, they ignored the dengue threat completely,” he said.

“In other provinces, health secretary and DHOs publish awareness ads in newspapers to inform people about precautionary measures regarding dengue. However, officials in our region have ignored these responsibilities,” said Khalil. According to Khalil, four people had died of dengue in Tehkal and 75 others were currently battling the virus at Khyber Teaching Hospital.

“A minor, Aimal Khan, died of dengue. Now doctors claim his death was not caused by dengue. However, fact of the matter is that Aimal’s family members are currently admitted at KTH and also suffering from dengue,” he said. “I contacted the chief minister and health minister and they have directed the authorities to take action. However, the officers did not do their duty,” said Khalil.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2015.