MINGORA: The University of Swat on Wednesday held a seminar to create awareness among public of the ways and means to prevent dengue.

The seminar titled ‘prevention and cure’ was held at the Odigram campus of the university.

Speaking on the occasion, director Institute of Basic Medical Sciences at Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Prof Jawad Ahmad said that prevention was better than cure of dengue disease.

“Though dengue is considered a dangerous disease these days, it could be controlled by adopting preventive measures,” he said.

He urged the students to play their role in creating awareness of checking the disease by removing stagnant water and covering pots containing water. He said that dengue fever was curable, but it could better be controlled from spreading by destroying all the possible breeding places of larvae.

Swat varsity VC Prof Jahanzeb Khan said that it was their collective responsibility to create awareness of the prevention of dengue fever among all members of the society.

“The university will continue its efforts to prevent people from being affected by dengue,” he said.

Swat assistant commissioner Ashfaq Khan highlighted steps that were taken by the district administration to prevent dengue disease in the area.

TWO FRESH CASES: Two patients tested positive for dengue virus at Saidu hospital here on Wednesday. These are said to be the first cases of the current season.

According to hospital sources, they had admitted two patients identified as Dildar, 30, resident of Kokrai, and Sajjad, 17, resident of Amankot, Mingora. Owing to possible outbreak of dengue epidemic in Swat, the hospital administration had taken steps to provide treatment to such patients.

According to the focal person of dengue emergency unit at Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals, Dr. Wasil Khan, they had established a 60-bed ward at the hospital besides allotting 15 beds to dengue patients at the outpatient department.

Last year about 39 people had died of dengue fever while over 9,000 were affected by the disease in Swat district.

The affected patients, Sajjad and Dildar, told reporters at the hospital that they had been feeling pain from last five days.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army had completed reconstruction of a mosque at Bazdara Bala, Malakand, which was destroyed by terrorists on May 17, 2013.

According to a press release issued by ISPR, Swat, the mosque had been reconstructed by Pakistan Army in collaboration with the local government and notables of the area.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2014