Pindi to hire more daily wagers amid dengue surge

Amid a spike in dengue cases, the District Health Authority (DHA) has decided to recruit 500 more sanitary patrol workers on daily wages.

The moves come after an inquiry into the recruitment of 1500 daily wages sanitary patrol workers was held. As many as 1,380 regular field employees are already at the disposal of the DHA for the anti-dengue campaign.

Medical camps are being set up in high-risk union councils due to the continuous increase in cases of dengue. As nine patients have lost their lives, the arrival of patients in hospitals continues.

The dengue mosquito has become uncontrollable in Rawalpindi and despite the anti-dengue campaign, 147 people were confirmed to be dengue-positive in the last 24 hours. The number of dengue patients under treatment in allied hospitals has reached 280. The Potohar Town area remains a hotspot. 147 dengue patients were reported in Rawalpindi district during 24 hours, while the number of confirmed dengue patients has reached 2,143 this season so far.

During the last 24 hours, 74 dengue patients were reported from Potohar Town, 26 from the municipal corporation limits, 25 from Rawalpindi Cantonment, seven from Potohar Rural, six from Taxila, while two each from Chaklala and Kallar Syedan.

According to health department sources, a total of 3,987 FIRs were registered against citizens for violating SOPs this year, 1,552 buildings were sealed and 2,732 fine tickets were issued. A total fine of more than Rs18 million was also imposed after dengue larvae were found.

Meanwhile, the Director of Health Services formed an inquiry committee comprising the CEOs of the DHAs of Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum and DHO Attock to probe the alleged recruitment of 1,500 sanitary patrol staff against rules and regulations.

However, after the said inquiry committee didn't submit the inquiry report even after a month passed after a meeting on September 4, the Director of Health Services Rawalpindi, Dr Ijaz Ahmed Gallo penned a letter to the Secretary of Health to take notice of the matter. However, the health secretary also remained silent on the issue.