Anti-dengue drive expedited in twin cities

The anti-dengue drive has been expedited in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi with all institutions assigned tasks and responsibilities, top officials said on Saturday.

Islamabad Health Authority (IHA) and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) have been tasked to manage the anti-dengue campaign in the federal capital. In the garrison city, District Health Authority has been assigned this duty.

This was decided in a meeting of stakeholders convened by Defence Housing Authority (DHA) II Station Commander Aijaz Qamar Kiyani on Saturday.

The meeting was attended by the officials of health authorities of twin cities, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) Chaklala Cantonment Noard (CCB), Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), local government representatives, and others.

Uncontrollable dengue virus claims another life

It was decided in the meeting that DHA will run the anti-dengue campaign in the areas within jurisdiction of DHA II including Potohar Town, Ghoray Shah, and Pind Gondal.

The anti-dengue located in localities located on the common boundaries of Islamabad and Rawalpindi has been assigned to RCB and District Health Authority in their respective jurisdictions.

The participants also concluded that to ensure transparency, the whole campaign would be monitored by third party.

The areas where the related institutions would report completion of surveillance activity will be examined through counter-response teams. If negligence is found, the responsible officials and institutions would be liable to face action.

Dengue ends naturally, wards stay for next year

In this regard, DHA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Sohail Chaudhry said that they have started implementation on the plan devised for an effective anti-dengue campaign.

He admitted that the dengue larvae were being recovered in huge quantities from different areas however, he added, all of it was destroyed on the spot. The official told that the residential or commercial units where larvae were recovered initially issued a warning to take measures to stop larvae breeding before action was taken.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2020.