RAWALPINDI: The district administration on Friday fumigated Adiala jail and its surrounding areas to protect high profile inmates, including PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur, from dengue.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Headquarters) Saima Younas told Dawn that the fumigation in Adiala jail was a routine exercise to protect the inmates and other residents in the surrounding areas from dengue.

She said the number of dengue patients had not decreased but efforts were being made to contain the virus in the city and cantonment areas.

“Besides Westridge, Peshawar Road Lane-7 and other areas of cantonment, more patients have reported to government hospitals from Tench Bhatta during the last two days,” she said.

Move aimed at protecting high profile inmates including Asif Ali Zardari, Faryal Talpur from dengue

The official said at present more than 415 dengue patients were being treated in the hospitals.

She said the ratio of patients being discharged from the hospital was also increasing.

Lady health workers and others would start their work in the most affected areas of Rawalpindi for the next 10 days, she added.

Meanwhile, a 25-bed special dengue ward was inaugurated by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza at the Federal Government Hospital in Chak Shahzad.

Speaking on the occasion, he said dengue wards were already working at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and Polyclinic. He said he was personally monitoring the situation and directions had been issued to hospitals to maintain high level of preparedness and provide best possible treatment to each dengue patient.

He said Islamabad hospitals were catering to dengue cases, including those from Rawalpindi. In this context, he was in touch with Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid.

“We are committed to effectively preventing and containing the disease,” he said.

“The dengue control cell is working round the clock in liaison with all departments concerned, public and private hospitals and civic bodies.”

The capital administration is regularly holding meetings to review the situation and take immediate measures. With coordinated and concerted efforts, the situation is improving, he said.

Mr Mirza said a preventive campaign was underway, including removal of mosquito breeding sites, covering open drinking water containers, removal of tyres, shoppers, plastic bottles and other wastes from roofs, draining water from room coolers and trays of refrigerators.

Special teams of sanitary inspectors, malaria supervisors and lady health workers are in the field for the purpose. A social mobilisation campaign has been launched through lady health workers to create awareness among the local communities.

He also called upon the citizens to adopt preventive measures by maintaining cleanliness in and around their homes, eliminating breeding sites, water bodies, old tyres, bottles and covering open drinking water containers.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2019