LAHORE: A number of walks, seminars and special cleanliness drives of streets, thoroughfares and offices were organized by civic agencies and various departments concerned to mark Sunday as the dengue eradication day.

LDA: On the directive by the Punjab government, the LDA administration observed the cleanliness day in its all offices and schools in Johar Town and other parts of the city.

According to a spokesman, comprehensive measures were taken for the eradication of breeding sites of dengue larvae in and around LDA buildings. Cleanliness of storerooms was carried out and accumulated rainwater at various places was also dried.

Insecticides were sprayed everywhere and fogging was done in green areas. All focal persons inspected the premises assigned to them and submitted clearance certificates to the administration regarding the dengue larvae.

WASA: The Wasa administration organized a walk from its head office (Zahoor Elahi Road) to the FC College underpass.

Led by Wasa Managing-Director Chaudhry Naseer, employees and the general public carried placards and banners inscribed with slogans and key messages on cleanliness and dengue eradication.

Senior officials distributed pamphlets and handbills on dengue awareness among residents, motorists and pedestrians.

CDGL: The CDGL organized a walk from the Town Hall to the GPO Chowk that was led by the DCO and other senior officials.

Carrying placards and banners, the participants also distributed handbills inscribed with a message regarding precautionary measures against dengue mosquito.

Officials said since the prevention was better than cure, the people must cooperate with the government in cleaning their streets, houses and other premises to avoid breeding of dengue larvae.

Meanwhile, departmental heads of various CDGL departments/offices/branches in the Town Halls and DCO offices also carried out cleanliness work on their premises.

TOWNS: The entire town municipal administrations (TMAs) organized walks and cleanliness drives in their offices.

Led by local MPAs, town administrators and officers, the participants distributed handbills among the public.

Walks were organized in Data Ganj Bakhsh, Ravi, Iqbal, Gulberg, Nishtar, Shalimar, Aziz Bhatti, Wagah and Samanabad towns.

Officials of town administrations and union councils also joined the awareness raising activities in their respective towns. Union Council secretaries got their offices fumigated.

“Participation of a number of people shows that the Lahorites are united in eliminating dengue,” said MPA Majid Zahoor while speaking at a walk organized by the Data Ganj Bakhsh Town administration at the Civil Secretariat.

He appealed to the people to ensure cleanliness of their houses, streets and drain out accumulated rainwater.

LWMC: The Lahore Waste Management Company staff remained on duty during the anti-dengue day to ensure maintenance of sanitation condition in the city.

Cleanliness and awareness activities were organized in towns, including a major awareness walk in Nishter Town, in which senior manager (operations) Suhail Anwar Malik, manager operations Saeed Khan, Ayyaz Mehmood and manager communication Jamil Khawar also took part.

A large amount of waste was removed from 55 open plots mainly located on Bund Road Shahdara, Kot Khawaja Saeed, Bambay Jhugian and China Scheme.

Since the Sunday rain made cleanliness operations a bit tough, but the officials continued organizing the activities.

Deployment of about 1,000 sanitary staff with nets and litter trappers were ensured at all 120 choking points of the city.

LTC: The Lahore Transport Company (LTC) marked the day with the objective to create awareness among the masses about the dengue fever.

They displayed banners on the public transport and distributed pamphlets regarding adoption of preventive measures against dengue.

The LTC-constituted teams visited bus terminals and depots at Railway Station, Green Town and Kot Lakhpat and supervised cleanliness and fumigation drive there.

They also visited several bus terminals of private transport operators, directing them to ensure cleanliness of their premises to avoid the spread of dengue.

“Our unity is the only way to defeat dengue,” said LTC CEO Khawaja Haider Latif while speaking to officials.

P&D: The Punjab Planning and Development Department organized a walk to mark the anti-dengue day.

The walk led by P&D member board Ijaz Hussain, the deputy secretary (admin) and others.

Addressing the participants, Mr Hussain said the Punjab government was observing the anti-dengue day with a determination that all possible resources would be utilized to eradicate dengue mosquitoes.

“War against dengue has not finished and efforts will continue till its complete eradication,” he said.

Pamphlets regarding dengue awareness among the participants were also distributed.

TDCP: The Tourism Department arranged a walk in connection with eradication of dengue from the province.

A number of TDCP officers and people from all walks of life participated in the walk.

UHS: The students, staff and faculty of the University of Health Sciences (UHS) organized a walk to sensitize public about the dengue virus.

Addressing the participants, UHS registrar Dr Asad Zaheer said the university was making every effort to keep its campus a dengue-free zone.

“Regular surveillance on scientific lines is being carried out all around the campus,” he said.

Later, a seminar was organized by the Human Genetics Department on the prevention and control of dengue.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2014