Government offices told to maintain vigilance against dengue

Committees to be formed at each govt-run place, EPA to conduct survey

PESHAWAR: With the dengue season on the horizon, the provincial government has decided to enhance measures against the viral fever and all offices have been told to ensure they are free of larvae.

According to a letter written by the provincial health secretary — a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, with a set of additional measures, apart from those already outlined by the health department.

These measures include the setting up of a two-three member committee in each government-run office which would inspect the premises every fortnight to ensure that it is “dengue-free”.

Moreover, all departments have been asked to hold regular meetings to discuss action plans on dengue preparedness within their jurisdiction.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Environmental Protection Agency (K-PEPA) has been tasked with surveying areas and to provide actionable data to all concerned departments. Moreover, all deputy commissioners will utilize services of the revenue staff in the field to identify potential vector breeding spaces.

Additionally, the government will also create simple dengue prevention messages and launch a massive communications strategy utilizing innovative ideas to disseminate the message.

The government has also decided to expand an outreach programme by the Elementary and Secondary Education Department, whereby teachers were co-opted to spread dengue prevention measures. In this regard, the government has asked the department to reach out to seminaries under its control and have teachers there talk to children about preventive measures.

Further, the department has been told to direct private educational institutions to co-opt its teachers for the prevention programme and to frame a random inspection mechanism.

The works department has been told to ensure that contractors get proper covers for water storage containers and that no craters are left where water can collect.

The health secretary further advised his department to approach the government for urgent provision of revolving funds in hand to meet any emergency.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2018.