Others should also chip in to eradicate dengue: DCO

Hospitals with dengue patients should do something about fumigation.

KARACHI:

DCO Muhammad Hussein Syed said that the city government is not the only one responsible for fighting the dengue epidemic. Since it is an infectious disease every citizen has to play a role.

Earlier, Syed had declared the city government would launch a fumigation campaign for 40,000 houses in certain areas of the city. But now, the city government cannot fumigate all of them. He said that the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) could not enter all homes and premises but would focus only on high-risk areas. The coming seven weeks are crucial for dengue because the number of cases tend to escalate in October.

He was critical of academic institutions, who he maintained should also spend some money on fumigation. “Even the hospitals with dengue patients are packed with mosquitoes,” said the DCO. “This is a major concern and the hospital management should make it their top priority.”

According to him, the CDGK was executing its responsibility to the best of its ability. Two towns are fumigated daily by 20 vehicles, once before dawn and once in the evening.

However, Syed admitted that not all of the 210 vehicles can be used because some are out of order. He said that efforts are being made to fumigate around 30,000 schools under the control of the city government where work has already begun. The CDGK will start a vigorous fumigation drive in six towns at once, followed by six more.

In reply to a question, the DCO said that the city government has a stock of platelet bags. National Institute of Blood Diseases and experts have been asked to help the administration.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2011.