RAWALPINDI: The Punjab Cabinet Committee on Dengue Control on Monday directed the district authorities to improve the mechanism of monitoring, reporting, and surveillance of dengue, as the commissioner separately confirmed two cases of dengue virus reported in the district.

The direction came during a meeting of the committee attended by provincial ministers Dr Jamal Nasir, Dr Javed Akram, Azfar Ali, Mansoor Qadir, the chief secretary, and secretaries of various departments.

Dr Jamal Nasir said that an effective system should be devised instead of traditional methods to control dengue and the existing resources of hospitals should be used for anti-dengue activities. He directed that special attention should be paid to getting rid of dengue larvae in parks and other open places.

Dr Javed Akram said that for the complete elimination of dengue, there was a need to work along the scientific lines and raise awareness among people through community mobilisation.

The meeting decided to establish paraplegic centers in five cities for the rehabilitation of people suffering from traumatic spinal cord injury.

The chief secretary also issued instructions to the deputy commissioners regarding the prevention of smog. He said that special measures should be taken to prevent air pollution at construction sites. He added that only kilns with zigzag technology would be allowed to operate.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha said that about 400 vacant plots have been identified in the Rawalpindi district, whose owners have been instructed to build boundary walls around the plots. He said that rainwater accumulates in the garbage dumped in the plots which lead to the breeding of dengue larvae. He said that plots that will not be cleaned and fenced would be marked ‘red’.

He expressed these views while addressing the participants of the anti-dengue meeting at the Commissioner’s office. The commissioner directed the Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation to finalise the SOPs regarding building materials as soon as possible. He further said that public involvement in anti-dengue activities was important because lack of cleanliness was the main cause of dengue breeding.

Mr Chatha said two confirmed cases of dengue have been reported in the district so far. In graveyards and parks, where wild bushes grow, there is a risk of water accumulation, so emphasis should be placed on surveillance in these areas, he said and directed that immediate disposal of solid waste should be ensured.

He directed that the teams appointed for dengue surveillance should try to control the growth of dengue larvae by checking graveyards and other places on a daily basis. “Teams must share their live location during their field visit and there should be no fake activity,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2023