PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department has called for the early release of funds for the Dengue Action Plan, 2023, insisting that the availability of the required money will help it ensure the prevention of the mosquito-borne disease in the province.

Officials in dengue endemic districts told Dawn that their efforts to control and prevent the infection in the current year suffered due to a long delay in the release of funding as 18 residents lost life to the disease and 22,950 went down with it.

They said the anti-dengue funds should have reached the department last December but they’re released in September in the current year delaying fogging and other activities.

The officials said the department was putting the finishing touches to the draft Dengue Action Plan, 2023, and would present it to the chief secretary for approval early next month.

They said the disease pattern showed that the province was likely to record high dengue incidence next year.

Dept finalising draft, will present it to chief secretary next month

Dr Mohammad Qasim Afridi, who heads the Integrated Vector Control and Malaria Control Programme at the provincial Directorate-General of Health Services, confirmed to Dawn that the Dengue Action Plan, 2023, was in the final stages of preparation and was likely to be ready next week.

“We will make a presentation to chief secretary Dr Shahzad Khan Bangash about next year’s anti-dengue plan by the end of the current month,” he said.

The official said the directorate required early funding to prepare for fogging and training of doctors in patient management and that of health workers in the detection and elimination of aegypti mosquitoes to prevent the production of mosquitoes, the transmitter of the disease.

He said there were changes in dengue hotspots, especially in Peshawar, where most cases were reported in Nasir Road, Palosai, Hayatabad and University Town areas instead of the previously endemic areas of Tehkal, Sarband and Pawaka.

“Fogging and public awareness led to fewer cases in the areas, which were hit by dengue hard last year. Early availability of funds will help us make preventive measures against the infection in April,” he said.

Dr Qasim said the chief secretary, who was a medical doctor, had already asked the health department to come up with a comprehensive strategy for dengue control and prevention, and present it to him for implementation.

He said the province recorded nine new dengue cases on Saturday.

The official said only one dengue patient was under treatment in the hospital.

He warned that the high-risk districts, including Peshawar, Mardan, Khyber, Haripur, Swabi, Kohat and Malakand, would report high incidence of the infection and deaths from it next year.

“We want to take early measures to prevent dengue from spreading,” he said.

Dr Qasim said the anti-dengue plan was revised every year in light of the “experiences and weaknesses” identified.

He said for the first time, the health department had engaged 38 entomologists for mosquito elimination and identification of hotspot union councils for action through coordination with the relevant departments.

“At the district level, activities under the dengue action plan are spearheaded by the respective deputy commissioners, while 19 relevant departments take part in daily meetings held on the multi-sectoral approach against dengue fever,” he said.

The official said the release of funds on time would help reduce dengue-related cases and deaths next year through better surveillance and management in hospitals.

He said dengue cases began to emerge in April and peaked in June-September period.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2022