Dengue cases on the rise as dept fails to ensure proper fumigation

Delays hit fumigation drive as local govt, health depts shift blame.


Z Ali October 23, 2013
Chemical cover: 3 is the number of times fumigation sprays have been carried out in the district since late July. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE.

HYDERABAD: In the absence of an effective fumigation campaign and a lack of awareness among residents, the dengue fever cases are surging in Hyderabad, with two deaths reported from Civil hospital on Monday night.

According to the district health officer, Dr Ghulam Mustafa Abbassi, of the 3,077 cases tested for dengue at four government hospitals, 409 have been tested positive. A majority of them surfaced during the last two months. Out of these positive cases, 227 patients were admitted for treatment while the rest were referred to the out-patients department (OPD). A majority of these cases were reported from the densely populated City taluka, followed by Latifabad.

Meanwhile, the health authorities claimed that at least three fumigation sprays have been carried out in the district since late July. The fourth phase, scheduled to start on October 7, was delayed due to a lack of funds. The campaign was supposed to be carried out after every fortnight to prevent mosquito larvae from growing up.



The residents dismissed, however, these claims and insisted that their neighbourhoods seldom see any sanitisation. “We read in newspapers and watch on television that the health authorities are staging awareness walks at the start of the fumigation campaign but we hardly find any vehicle spraying chemicals in our area,” admitted Danish Malik, a resident of Liaquat Colony, a neighbourhood in City taluka, where the largest number of dengue cases — 270 — emerged.

In view of such public outcry and complaints, district and sessions judge Aijaz Khaskheli ordered the authorities on October 9 to perform fumigation in the presence of a court-nominated citizen. According to the order, applicant Tajamul Khan or his nominees have been authorised to certify sanitisation in each part of the district.

However, the court order has not been complied with so far while the district administration has formed its own fumigation plan that will start from October 22. Dr Abbassi told a press conference on Monday that they will ensure optimal results this time around. “We have formed 10 teams led by four sub-divisional magistrates, four Mukhtiarkars, four doctors and four municipality officials,” he explained. “Unlike the past, we will start it from one taluka followed by another instead of simultaneously doing it in the whole district.”

He admitted that the district did not have proper fumigation in the past, but he blamed the local government and the town municipal authorities for this. “The health department only provides chemicals and machines. The vehicles, fuel and staff in addition to doing spray in the areas is not our responsibility.”

The local government department’s assistant director, Aijaz Bhutto, told The Express Tribune that their drive for early October was delayed due to a lack of funds. Sindh information minister Sharjeel Memon, however, got approved Rs5 million for fumigation from the chief secretary, he added. “We will make sure that each locality is sprayed with the chemicals and that no complain surfaces,” he promised.

Khan said he has yet to be consulted despite the authorities being bound by the order.

According to sources in the health department, there is a dearth of technicians trained to make the chemical mix for fumigation but Dr Abbassi claimed they have 32 trained technicians for the job.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2013.

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