Funds provided to contain dengue spread

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) health department has been issued Rs173 million in funding for dengue action plan, following which the department has placed supply order for the procurement of chemicals and other items required for the elimination of the mosquito-borne illness.

Sources said that there was delay in the issuance of funds to the health department as it was necessary to eliminate dengue larva in March. Some districts including Peshawar, Mardan, Khyber, Haripur and Kohat have been declared as high risk areas. On the other hand, dengue cases are increasing in flood-hit districts like Nowshera, Charsadda, DI Khan and Tank.

Funds have been issued on an emergency basis by K-P chief secretary following the continuous rise in fresh dengue cases.

Sources said that the provincial department will receive the required supply till next week, which will be distributed among the stricken areas on the advice of entomologists.

Health department sources have told this correspondent that the dengue situation is under control – for now – as only Peshawar is at high risk reporting majority of the cases. Sources said that 11,613 cases have been reported across the province this year alone.