Dengue deliberations: Experts say awareness best preventive measure

Seminar highlights challenges in defeating deadly virus.

ISLAMABAD:

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Tuesday organised a seminar on prevention and management of dengue at the Pak-China Friendship Centre.

Dr Waseem Akram, an expert on dengue fever from Punjab, informed audiences that dengue was no more a seasonal virulent disease. “With climate change, dengue has now become an all-season enemy and round the year vigilance and preventive measures are the only solution,” Akram said.  Stressing the role of cleanliness and sanitation in the fight against dengue, Akram said although Islamabad enjoyed a reputation of being a clean city, coordinated efforts were required to do away with the dengue threat by accelerating a cleanliness drive in the city.

While sharing his experiences as a team leader in combating dengue in Punjab, he said awareness about causes of the virus was the most important thing in this war.

“Measures such as fogging spray and use of chemicals may be useful but their effectiveness has a very short life. The only durable cure of dengue is awareness and proper translation of awareness into actions during our day to day life,” Akram said.

Dr Qutubuddin Kakar of the World Health Organisation informed participants how the international agency helped provincial governments in Pakistan subdue dengue.

CDA Director Health Services Dr Hassan Urooj threw light on CDA’s efforts to deal with dengue in the capital. He said more than forty vehicles and 200 sanitation workers clean areas along IJP Road round the clock. He said parks, tyre shops, green areas, graveyards and other locations are inspected daily and necessary action taken accordingly.



CDA Chairman Nadeem Hassan Asif said the authority was following a multipronged strategy to fight the menace.

Emphasising the role of civil society in the campaign against dengue, Asif said the civil society should also intensify efforts to spread awareness among the public regarding the dangers of dengue.

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