215 houses found dengue ‘positive’ in Pindi

District officials direct for expediting, expanding the drive

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi district authorities and the district health department have been directed to expedite and expand their anti-dengue drive in the area after surveillance teams found as many as 215 houses ‘positive’ for the mosquito-borne virus.

On the directions of Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Ali Randhawa, the district health officials have formed different dengue surveillance teams who have been tasked with seeking and destroying the dengue larvae as well as informing the public during their survey regarding the precautions which can be taken against the virus on a regular basis.

Sanitary Patrol officials including Qamar Mahmood, Mohammad Abrar and Faizan Abbasi have launched indoor and outdoor surveillance in different areas of Union Council 17. The teams have warned the people to drain all pools of stagnant water to curtail the growth of dengue larvae.

Separately, in a weekly meeting over the anti-dengue drive, Rawalpindi Additional Deputy Commissioner (DC) Headquarters Saima Younus directed to expand the drive along with bringing improvements in the sanitation system of the district.

Dengue monitoring: Target 40 houses per day: official

There was some good news with officials stating that no new dengue patient has been confirmed in Rawalpindi during the current dengue season.

They added that some 331 teams inspected 49,226 houses in different parts of Rawalpindi, including the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB), Potohar Town—Urban and Rawal Town between April 16 to 22. During this period, the indoor surveillance teams found that 215 homes were positive.

Further, the outdoor surveillance report showed that 258 teams had inspected 40,506 spots in these areas and found nine were found to be positive.

Younus directed the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) to clear wild bushes, terming them a major source of dengue breeding.

Keeping in view the weather situation, she further directed the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company and the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) to improve the sanitation and sewerage disposal system in the city.

Younus directed that all departments should ensure that standard operating procedures against the dengue virus are implemented.

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RDA vacant post

The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Chairman Arif Ali Abbasi has requested the Punjab government to appoint a temporary director general (DG) of the authority.

Rawalpindi Commissioner Joudat Ayaz had been recently given the additional charge of RDA DG after the previous incumbent Muhammad Hayat Lek was transferred.

When asked, Abbasi confirmed that he had sent a request to Lahore over the matter, adding that he had recommended five names to the government for appointment including Overseas Pakistan Foundation- Punjab Director Asad Ahmed, Lahore Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Managing Director (MD) and others.

Further, Abbasi said that he had asked the provincial government to fill other key vacant spots in WASA and RDA. He stated that he was not in favour of appointing officers on deputation while merit should be followed in appointments so that the department’s performance can improve.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2019.