Dengue larvae: RCB fails to clean potential breeding sites

Accumulated rainwater in areas with civilian residents most prone to dengue virus.

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) authorities have failed to stem breeding of dengue larvae in the city despite warnings issued to them by the city district government prior to the rains.

So far, five dengue cases have surfaced in areas which fall within the purview of the cantonment board.

After the surfacing of the cases, the district administration has asked the cantonment administration to immediately identify the potential larvae breeding sites in its jurisdiction, source in the district government told The Express Tribune.

“Prior warnings and alerts were issued to the cantonment officials to destroy the potential breeding sites but they did not pay any heed to their caution,” the source said on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

The sources said that there were reports about the presence of dengue larvae sites in the RCB jurisdiction.

In certain areas, where majority of civilians reside, the drainage system is almost non-existent and stagnant water could be found on roads and in streets.

While cantonment board authorities have awarded contracts to private companies for disposing of the waste but the companies hardly carry out the sanitation work.

The situation worsened after torrential rains lashed the city three days ago. Rainwater has accumulated in different areas, which could turn into the larvae breeding sites if cleanliness work was not carried out immediately.

Muhammad Shoukat, a resident of Saddar, said that despite lodging several complaints, the RCB authorities failed to entertain them. “This is alarming and they are playing with our lives,” he said.

After alerts were issued by the district government, only then the RCB started fumigation but it was too late, he said.

“The RCB failed to take swift action after the warnings were issued. The latest drive will be a futile exercise,” the sources said. The sources added that trained paramedic staff was available with the RCB but it failed to mobilise them.

District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sajid Zafar Daal said that the city district government has decided to start a joint venture with the RCB to completely eradicate dengue larvae from the garrison city.

He said that a proposal was under consideration to shift staff of the health department from low priority areas to the larvae-prone RCB areas. He said, however, that they could only move forward if the RCB cooperated with them.

On the other hand, RCB Additional Executive Officer Shakil Anwar Jappa claimed that nine teams had already been carrying out surveillance visits in different areas to destroy the larvae breeding sites besides raising awareness among the masses about the mosquito.

“But most people do not allow our teams to visit their houses.”

He said that 70 to 80 cases were reported last year but “we are determined to reduce the number this year”.

He said that complete eradication of the virus was only possible when the public extended cooperation.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2014.