RAWALPINDI: The district administration and all the allied departments on Sunday launched a massive anti-dengue drive in Dhoke Munshi, an area around Nur Khan Airbase, which will continue for the next 10 days.

More than 50 dengue patients were brought to the three government-run hospitals from Dhoke Munshi, forcing Commissioner Saqib Zafar to order a massive anti-dengue campaign in the area to prevent the spread of the virus in other parts of the city.

There are more than five private colonies in the area including Gulbahar, Wakeel Colony, Airport Employees Housing Scheme and Nawab Colony. There are over 10,000 houses in the area and the 50 patients were brought from these areas.

The campaign will continue for the next 10 days to prevent the spread of the virus

On Sunday, Commissioner Saqib Zafar and Deputy Commissioner Ali Randhawa visited the area and inspected the measures taken by the teams which included carrying out outdoor and indoor residual spray and creating awareness campaign among the residents.

The health department established a counter to carry out blood tests of patients suffering from fever and flu in the area.

Water-based fogging is being carried out twice a day in the morning and evening to eliminate the mosquitoes and dengue larvae in the streets and roads. The campaign will continue for the next 10 days.

The commissioner and deputy commissioner were told that 700 sanitary patrols had launched the anti-dengue drive to detect larvae in 10,000 houses in the area.

Rawalpindi Development Authority teams detected dengue mosquitoes in 10 commercial buildings and lodged FIR against the owners. The PHA also removed vegetation from 18 plots.

Agriculture and livestock department found 19 cattle pens where water was stored for the animals and the department team managed to clear these sites from dengue mosquitoes and larvae.

Dengue mosquitoes were also found in nine mosques of the area and the Auqaf department teams took measures to eliminate them. The teams told the mosque administrations to take precautionary measures.

An FIR had been launched against a paint workshop in the area after dengue larvae was detected on its premises. The report was lodged with the Airport police station.

Assistant Commissioner Headquarters Saima Younas informed the commissioner and deputy commissioner that fogging would be conducted in the streets and houses.

She said Airport Housing Scheme administration had filled 19 underground water tanks in vacant plots of the area which was the breeding sites for dengue mosquitoes. She said pamphlets and the brochures were being distributed among the residents to create awareness.

Deputy Commissioner Ali Randhawa asked the departments to expedite work to eliminate dengue mosquitoes and would not tolerate any negligence. Departmental action would be taken against those officials who were found negligent in the anti-dengue drive, he added.

Mr Randhawa also requested the residents to cooperate with the government in this regard.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2019