Anti-Dengue Day: Walks and seminars held to raise awareness

People urged to keep surroundings clean to prevent larva growth.

LAHORE: Government departments held walks across the city on Sunday to raise awareness of preventive measures against dengue fever.

Officials also organised seminars at the town level, Punjab Food Authority officials and town staff inspected cleaning arrangements in various areas, while special awareness activities were held by the Lahore Waste Management Company as Sunday was observed as Anti Dengue Day.



In Data Ganj Bakhsh Town, Food Minister Bilal Yasin led a march from the Town Office to the Town Hall. Various politicians, officials, and students participated in the walk, waving banners and chanting slogans.

Environment Minister Shuja Khanzada participated in a seminar in Wagha Town and then led a walk from Jallo Mor to Batapur, along with MPAs and MNAs, town staff and general citizens.

Addressing the seminar, the minister said that everyone could play a role in the elimination of dengue fever by keeping their houses clean. Teachers, students and religious leaders should raise awareness about how to eliminate breeding places for dengue mosquitoes.

Environment Secretary Anwar Rasheed said that camps had been set up in 12 union councils within Wagha Town where political workers were monitoring dengue surveillance teams. Teams of lady health workers, town staff, teachers and students were being sent door-to-door to detect and eliminate mosquito larvae and inform residents of simple preventive measures.



DCO Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi paid visits to all nine towns of the city. He distributed pamphlets detailing precautionary measures among citizens at Liberty Market, the Civil Secretariat, MAO College, Begum Kot and Shahdara.

Lahore Development Authority officials held an awareness walk and distributed pamphlets in Johar Town. Seminars and walks were held at all six LDA Model Schools, in Allama Iqbal Town, Johar Town, Sabzazar and Gulshan-i-Ravi.

The Water and Sanitation Agency also organised a walk from its headquarters to FC College University, led by Managing Director Javed Iqbal. The Lahore Waste Management Company marked Anti-Dengue Day by sending a float through parts of the city singing motivational songs and distributing pamphlets.

LWMC Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan went door-to-door with LWMC teams in Naseerabad to inform residents of the importance of keeping their surroundings clean in the battle against dengue.

Hassaan said that the commemoration of an Anti-Dengue Day was essential to raising awareness of the disease. He said that the LWMC conducted a campaign all year to clear empty plots, with more than 2,400 cleared each year, and intensified it during dengue season.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th,2013.