Significant drop seen in dengue cases

K-P Health Secretary commended joint efforts of Health Department, public in significantly reducing cases this year

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Secretary, Mahmood Aslam Wazir, commended the joint efforts of the Health Department and the public in significantly reducing dengue cases this year compared to the previous year.

He stressed the importance of continued vigilance, despite seasonal variations, in the ongoing battle against dengue.

According to Health Department statistics, as of September 2022, there were 6,017 confirmed dengue cases in the province. However, in September 2023, only 156 cases have been reported, underscoring the impact of timely interventions.

Wazir highlighted the pivotal role played by medical entomologists across the province, particularly in dengue control and prevention. He revealed that in the past week alone, a remarkable 312,760 households were inspected, with 710 of them found to have dengue larvae. These households were promptly treated using chemical and mechanical methods.

Also read Health dept scrambles to curb dengue spread

The Health Department also engaged in a robust awareness campaign. Teams reached out to 54,292 individuals in various areas and delivered dengue prevention messages, with a specific focus on reaching 285,237 women through Lady Health Workers (LHW). Additionally, in areas where dengue cases were identified, 63 seminars and awareness sessions were conducted. These efforts included distributing 19,533 brochures related to dengue infection during these sessions.

Wazir expressed gratitude to divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, religious scholars, and civil defense volunteers who played instrumental roles in raising public awareness about dengue. He mentioned that religious scholars incorporated discussions on the benefits of cleanliness and hygiene in their Friday sermons. Similarly, civil defense volunteers went door-to-door, engaging with people and educating them on the dangers of the dengue virus and methods to prevent it.

He emphasized that the success would not have been possible without the active cooperation of the public.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2023.