RAWALPINDI: The district administration has declared an emergency after dengue cases were reported from 20 union councils. Starting Tuesday, fumigation and sweeping will begin immediately in these areas to stop dengue larvae from spreading to other parts of the city.
Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema told Dawn that over 20 union councils in Rawalpindi are dengue hotspots. “We will start fumigation and sweeping in these areas within the next 15 days,” he said.
He added that more than 600 sanitary patrol teams will work to clean every corner of these areas to remove dengue larvae.
The affected areas include Chak Jilal Din, Dhoke Munshee, Kotha Kallan, Girja, Dhamyal, Lakkhan, Kulyal, Rehmatabad, Gangal, Chaklala, Takhat Pari, CTR-17, CTR-14, CTR-1, CTR-12, Shakrial North, Khana Dak, Dhama Syedan, CTR-10, and Morga.
To keep a close watch on dengue cases, special teams have been formed. These teams will submit daily reports and their attendance will be checked regularly. Mobile health vans will also be placed in these areas to test people living near dengue patients.
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Following Punjab government rules, fumigation will focus on the dengue hotspots, especially before and during rain to prevent the virus from spreading.
Dr Cheema said parliamentarians are helping by supervising the anti-dengue work. “Local MNAs and MPs will monitor the efforts and report any problems,” he added.
Meanwhile, a meeting was held at the deputy commissioner’s office with local lawmakers, including MNA Tahira Aurangzeb and Danyal Chaudhry, to plan more steps to control dengue.
The deputy commissioner called on federal organisations, like cantonment boards and Pakistan Railways, to run their own anti-dengue campaigns. He warned that efforts by the Punjab government would not succeed without their cooperation.
He also announced that seminars and awareness walks will be held across the division to educate people about dengue prevention. Schools are encouraged to start a special zero period to teach students about dengue and how to avoid it.
Government offices have been ordered to keep their workplaces clean. The health department, town municipal administrations, and municipal services have been told to increase sanitation work during this monsoon season to stop dengue from spreading.
