ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman, Maroof Afzal, on Tuesday directed the health directorate to come up with an integrated plan aimed at combating dengue in rainy season.

A meeting in this regard was held at the CDA health directorate, which was attended by health officers, entomologists and malaria inspector.

Director health service presented an overview of the anti-dengue steps taken by the directorate since January 2015.

He informed the meeting that during monsoon rains, chances of dengue mosquito breeding increases.

He said the directorate would be more vigilant in the present situation and during its campaign it would focus on high risk areas for spray and fogging.

The other activities are surveillance of vectors, destruction of breeding sites, capacity building and solid waste management, evidence based spray and fumigation and surveillance.

Moreover, mapping of high risk area has been completed and sectors like I-8, to I-12, G-6, G-7, G-8, F-6, F-7 have been labeled “red”.

Besides, meetings with CDA directorates like DMA, Sanitation, Environment, Parks, Road, ICT Administration and Commissioner Office, Rawalpindi to finalise collaborative action plan to kill dengue mosquito.

Director Health, CDA, Dr. Hasan Orooj has asked general public to install wire gauze on doors and windows, use mosquito nets when sleeping outside, wearing full sleeves clothes and use mosquito repellent cream during high peak season of dengue virus transmission.

He said dengue mosquito breeds in damp conditions, discarded drums, vases, buckets, earthen jars, removed tyres and other water containers.

Besides, solid waste should be discarded because these are the major contributors to spreading dengue.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2015

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