RAWALPINDI: Six more dengue patients landed in three government hospitals in the garrison city taking the number of cases the current season to 78.

As many as 17 patients are currently admitted in three hospitals — eight in Holy Family Hospital, four in District Headquarters Hospital and three in Benazir Bhutto Hospital.

Last year, 128 patients had reported to the three hospitals till August 31 while in 2022 the number was 175 in the corresponding period.

The new six patients arrived from Kalma Chowk Pindora, Arya Mohallah, Jamia Masjid Road, Chak Jalaldin and adjoining areas.

It’s impossible to control dengue without cooperation of citizens, says deputy commissioner

However, so far the vulnerable areas have been Gangal, Dhoke Munshee, Chak Jalaldin, Ratta Amral, DAV College Road, Khanna Dak, Lakkhan and cantonment areas of Rawalpindi and Chaklala. So far, 36 patients have reported from these areas.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema and District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Asif Arbab Khan Niazi visited various union councils to monitor the anti-dengue drive.

The deputy commissioner urged people to coordinate with the anti-dengue teams so they will clear the areas from the dengue larvae.

He said it was impossible to control dengue without the cooperation of the citizens. Awareness among the people regarding dengue is the need of the hour. He directed that all departments should coordinate to further speed up the campaign to make the anti-dengue activity more effective.

Mr Cheema said areas affected by dengue last year should be swept clean by conducting indoor and outdoor surveillance. He said every individual has to play their role in making the dengue campaign a success.

In the wake of recent rains, he said, there were chances of the dengue virus spreading in the city and the health department should fumigate all areas, especially low-lying areas of the city. He said staff would be deputed on different areas of the city where the dengue mosquitoes had been found during ongoing campaign.

Officials informed a meeting that the District Health Authority in last seven days had found dengue larvae at 761 spots. The health authority imposed Rs1.9 million fines on the violators of dengue standard operating procedures, lodged 294 FIRs and issued 211 challans against them besides sealing 89 premises.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2024