Preventive measures : Anti-dengue drive launched in Rawalpindi

Ongoing rains have raised concerns about disease’s spread.

RAWALPINDI: Even though two years ago the Punjab government celebrated eradication of dengue but the risk of the virus is not over yet.

The current floods have increased the threat of spread of dengue across the country as hundreds of people have died due to the virus in the past.

Government departments, cultural organisations and civic bodies on Sunday launched a public awareness campaign against dengue mosquito in Rawalpindi by organising walks and seminars.

Rawal Town Municipal Administration organised a walk which was participated by the civic agency employees. They marched from the TMA office to Liaqat Chowk. Town Municipal Officer Mir Akmal, while addressing the participants, stressed upon the town municipal staffers to not only focus on streets, localities and houses in eliminating dengue but also involve citizens in the campaign.

He asked the staffers to clean up the town offices, and drain out rainwater from the surrounding areas.

Akmal also visited the new offices of the TMA, and directed the officials to shift as early as possible to the new building.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi Arts Council also organised an anti-dengue walk from the council offices to Nawaz Sharif Park on the Benazir Bhutto Road. Resident director of the council Waqar Ahmed distributed pamphlets containing basic information about dengue and precautionary measures required, among the participants.

He said that dengue virus could be controlled if every individual realised its responsibility and maintained cleanliness.

Ahmed urged council staffers to take part in such drives.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Education Foundation also kept its offices open and participated in the cleanliness drive.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2015.