Dengue fear looms after rains

Due to recent record rains in Lahore and other parts of Punjab, anti-dengue activities have been disturbed across the province. Field staff in Lahore and other big cities were unable to operate due to inclement weather, while government and private schools were also closed and rainwater accumulated in the schools and parks of the cities.

The Lahore district administration failed to provide a solution regarding stagnant rainwater at schools, grounds and parks, while due to the alleged mismanagement of the health authorities and district government, there is a fear that dengue could uncontrollably spread in the coming weeks.

Medical experts cautioned that a comprehensive anti-dengue campaign could not be started in Punjab amid rough weather.

After the record downpour, rainwater has accumulated around the city’s parks, schools and sports grounds. Shockingly, majority of anti-dengue staff, allegedly recruited on political grounds, were absent from duty. Such complaints were received across Punjab and a similar situation was observed at public and private schools, where school heads and administrative staff were also absent. The Punjab government engaged all public schools in an anti-dengue campaign and school heads were instructed to send photographs and video clips of their buildings, roofs and grounds on a daily basis to confirm the absence of stagnant rainwater or dengue larvae.

However, most schools did not open after the downpour and the administrations failed to follow government instructions. Not only were school heads ignoring anti-dengue instructions, but they failed to reach schools and oversee drainage of standing rainwater from the buildings.

“The situation in Lahore is serious and we requested District Education Authority officials to monitor and check schools. Fines were also imposed on absent school heads and over 20 of them in Lahore were issued show-cause notices,” said an official of the Punjab School Education Department.

Teachers and education staff fired back and lambasted authorities taking action against them. They blamed the inundated roads on the alleged negligence of the district administration, adding that they are above reproach and will not be held accountable. A teacher claimed that the education community performed a historic role in the fight against coronavirus, dengue and other diseases and it is once again playing its role.

On the other hand, while localities in many parts of the provincial capital and other districts are suffering from urban flooding, high-ranking health officers are focusing on holding meetings in furnished buildings.

An official lamented that in spite of receiving adequate warning, no long-term plan has been chalked out to deal with floods. Anti-dengue personnel are absent from duty and the district government has no mechanism to monitor steps taken to counter dengue. He added that no department is monitoring the activities of the district government, WASA, LWMC and health departments.

The official stated that the most critical situation is in South Punjab, where Multan is at risk of dengue spreading with 60 confirmed cases reported during the current season. Other big cities including Lahore are also at risk, as 75 dengue cases were confirmed in Lahore among 250 confirmed across Punjab this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2023.