Conflict between DHA, CDGL comes to the fore
Another 25 patients with emerging symptoms admitted to hospitals
Another 25 patients with emerging symptoms admitted to hospitals
LAHORE:
As another 25 patients with emerging dengue symptoms were admitted to different hospitals, the conflict between Defence Housing Authority’s (DHA) anti-dengue teams and City District Government Lahore’s (CDGL) fumigation teams was badly exposed.
Around 1,040 patients were admitted to various hospitals in Lahore alone during 2016 after catching the virus. Although no deaths were reported due to the virus in recent months, the conflict between the administrative bodies put the lives of locals in danger.
Sources in the city district government told The Express Tribune that anti-dengue campaigns had failed in the DHA and Cantonment areas. “This is because DHA officials did not allow us to conduct door-to-door sprays,” a CDGL official alleged.
A proper anti-dengue drive could not be conducted in upscale localities because the fumigation teams were not allowed to enter homes due to security concerns, he maintained. The official added this was another contributor to more patients being admitted to hospitals from these localities.
Lahore DCO Captain (retd) Muhammad Usman could not be contacted for comments, despite repeated attempts. However, his spokesman Imran Maqbool told The Express Tribune there were no issues in carrying out the anti-dengue drive in the DHA and Cantonment areas. “We are conducting anti-dengue drives successfully in these localities in coordination with DHA teams,” he added.
“However, there were some minor issues which have already been solved.”
He requested those being admitted to hospitals after catching the virus to allow teams to spray their houses.
While talking to The Express Tribune, DHA Spokesperson Ijaz Masood Hayat said he also heard reports about the failure of his organisation’s anti-dengue teams. He claimed those involved in spreading such information had a vested interest.
“Our anti-dengue teams are smart and qualified. We have successfully continued our door-to-door drive,” he added.
He said teams of two men and a woman had been formed to spray in and around houses of every block in DHA. “This year, the overall situation is better and the number of dengue cases reported was less than last year,” he maintained.
He also requested residents of DHA and the Cantonment to allow teams to enter their houses and spray for the sake of their own health.
Several suspected cases of dengue were reported at different hospitals, but the government seems helpless when it comes to countering the threat. According to data provided by CDGL, larvae have been found in every street and corner of the city.
When contacted, Punjab health department spokesperson said surveillance teams were working at the union-council level. He claimed there was not a single confirmed death due to dengue thanks to the department’s policies.
“The health department, in coordination with the city district government, has already intensified indoor and outdoor dengue surveillance activities,” he added. “This has resulted in a decrease in the number of people affected by the larvae in vulnerable districts.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2016.
As another 25 patients with emerging dengue symptoms were admitted to different hospitals, the conflict between Defence Housing Authority’s (DHA) anti-dengue teams and City District Government Lahore’s (CDGL) fumigation teams was badly exposed.
Around 1,040 patients were admitted to various hospitals in Lahore alone during 2016 after catching the virus. Although no deaths were reported due to the virus in recent months, the conflict between the administrative bodies put the lives of locals in danger.
Sources in the city district government told The Express Tribune that anti-dengue campaigns had failed in the DHA and Cantonment areas. “This is because DHA officials did not allow us to conduct door-to-door sprays,” a CDGL official alleged.
A proper anti-dengue drive could not be conducted in upscale localities because the fumigation teams were not allowed to enter homes due to security concerns, he maintained. The official added this was another contributor to more patients being admitted to hospitals from these localities.
Lahore DCO Captain (retd) Muhammad Usman could not be contacted for comments, despite repeated attempts. However, his spokesman Imran Maqbool told The Express Tribune there were no issues in carrying out the anti-dengue drive in the DHA and Cantonment areas. “We are conducting anti-dengue drives successfully in these localities in coordination with DHA teams,” he added.
“However, there were some minor issues which have already been solved.”
He requested those being admitted to hospitals after catching the virus to allow teams to spray their houses.
While talking to The Express Tribune, DHA Spokesperson Ijaz Masood Hayat said he also heard reports about the failure of his organisation’s anti-dengue teams. He claimed those involved in spreading such information had a vested interest.
“Our anti-dengue teams are smart and qualified. We have successfully continued our door-to-door drive,” he added.
He said teams of two men and a woman had been formed to spray in and around houses of every block in DHA. “This year, the overall situation is better and the number of dengue cases reported was less than last year,” he maintained.
He also requested residents of DHA and the Cantonment to allow teams to enter their houses and spray for the sake of their own health.
Several suspected cases of dengue were reported at different hospitals, but the government seems helpless when it comes to countering the threat. According to data provided by CDGL, larvae have been found in every street and corner of the city.
When contacted, Punjab health department spokesperson said surveillance teams were working at the union-council level. He claimed there was not a single confirmed death due to dengue thanks to the department’s policies.
“The health department, in coordination with the city district government, has already intensified indoor and outdoor dengue surveillance activities,” he added. “This has resulted in a decrease in the number of people affected by the larvae in vulnerable districts.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2016.