Rawalpindi gears up to combat dengue

Health authority hires 869 daily wage patrol workers

RAWALPINDI:

In a proactive measure, the District Health Authority has hired 869 dengue patrol workers to combat the threat of dengue larvae breeding following the current spell of rain.

According to official sources, an allocation of Rs20 million has been released for the cleansing of cemeteries within the Rawalpindi Cantt and city areas to prevent the proliferation of dengue mosquitos.

To ensure effective monitoring, the Civil Defence Department has been given the task of conducting third-party surveys. The district officer will be responsible for inspections of areas cleared of dengue. The recently recruited workforce comprises 738 female and 231 male dengue patrol workers, who will be paid a daily wage of Rs 965. The initial employment period spans 32 days, with a one-month extension until October 31. These workers will be deployed in Rawal Town, Potohar Town, Cantt, Gujar Khan, Kotli Sattian, Kallar Syedan, Taxila, and Kahota Tehsils.

Sources also said Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema is closely monitoring reports of dengue larvae breeding and has issued a stern directive to all departments concerned including the District Health Authority to adopt a zero-tolerance policy. The owners of properties found with dengue larvae will face legal action. In case of larvae detection during third-party inspections of cleared areas, repercussions will be faced by the staff responsible for declaring the location as clear, and their salaries will be withheld.

The deputy commissioner has also declared sites with reported dengue cases as hotspots in the past five years. Special attention will be given to these areas and to empty plots, under-construction structures, underpasses, water tanks, tire shops, junkyards, and cemeteries across the district.

From June 1st to October 31st, inspections for dengue larvae will be conducted rigorously from 9am to 6pm every day.

Furthermore, immediate spraying of areas with dengue patients will take place, and dedicated dengue wards will be established in all allied hospitals starting next week.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2023.