The fate of Karachi’s fumigation campaigns

In the absence of funds and disinfectants, the city’s anti-mosquito campaign has suffered a slow collapse in the last five years.

As a consequence of which, a steep rise in dengue cases is now seen to be burdening the local healthcare system, the fallout of which could be cataclysmic for a city which has barely crawled out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Karachi University Department of Zoology’s former Professor Dr Ansar Rizvi, Karachi’s dengue problem has been jointly complicated by the government and the people. “This problem can be controlled immediately if the concerned government agencies spray disinfectants in time and people play their role and follow safety guidelines,” he opined.

Speaking in the regard, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Director Fumigation Aftab Israni said that disinfectant sprays have been carried out three times in collaboration with Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, Selani Welfare Trust, Al-Khidmat and District Municipal Corporations, but funds frazzled out after that.

Per the director fumigation, the department has 40 vehicles, 40 machines and trained staff. “However, KMC is facing a shortage of funds. In the past, Sindh government used to issue pesticides for sprays, but for last five years, the provincial government has not been issuing us the chemicals, which has capsized our fumigation campaigns,” he told.

According to sources in Karachi, the recent disinfection spray campaign was carried out in collaboration with the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, a provincial government agency. The campaign was conducted in only three districts, including District East, District West and District Kemari, while it only covered 20 per cent of the city.

The claim however was denied by a spokesperson of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, who believes that five districts of the city were included in the spray campaign. “The remaining two districts, District Central and Korangi, are not yet fully under the control of the board. The board, in collaboration with the DMC, has started work to pick up garbage there, but the matter is still in its infancy,” he told.

Similarly, a spokesman for the District Municipal Corporation Central (DMC) said germicidal sprays were carried out in all areas of the DMC. The DMC provided disinfectants and diesel with its own funds, while the vehicles, spray machines and staff belonged to the KMC.

Read More: Dengue haunts Karachi’s nightlife

Some four months ago, disinfectant sprays were carried out twice throughout the city, in collaboration with Sailani Welfare Trust and Al-Khidmat Welfare Trust.

City sources believe that dengue sprays are not a one-off campaign, and need to be conducted throughout the city all year round, if dengue is to be kept at bay. “When KMC had funds, we’d have sprays during and after Eid ulAzha, and then in September, October, November and December, which would control the breeding of mosquitoes in rainwater from the monsoons. The recent lack of sprays has allowed the mosquito population to grow manifolds after the monsoons,” a source recalled.

Dr Ansar Rizvi however believes that the condition can still be controlled, but would require effective corporation between the government and the people. He said that citizens should ensure that water does not accumulate anywhere inside or outside their houses. “Whether the water is clean or sewage, in both cases, mosquitoes can breed in it. Therefore, it is necessary to spray kerosene in the accumulated water to stop the breeding of mosquitoes, while proper fumigation is required at the government level.

In addition to that, larva-eaters like goldfish, gopies and catfish, can be released in streams and drains and raised in places with stagnant water, like tire shops. These fish are cheap and proven to control the mosquito population by obstructing the lifecycle at the larva stage. But this won’t work if the larva population is too high, in that case use of the anti-larvae chemical like Nathoprine will be required,” he told.

Acknowledging the seriousness of the issue, Pakistan Medical Council Secretary General Dr Qaiser Sajjad also urged the government to run a full-fledged disinfectant spray campaign, while also encouraging the public to play its role. “Water should not be left to accumulate in any place, nets should be installed in sleeping areas and people should also fumigate their own homes,” he advised, while speaking to The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2021.