RAWALPINDI: Punjab Minister for Labour and Manpower Raja Ashfaq Sarwar and Commissioner Zahid Saeed on Saturday asked for laboratory reports on the quality of mosquito repellent being sprayed by the health department to kill dengue mosquitoes in high-risk union councils.

In a meeting held to review dengue prevention measures, the minister and commissioner were concerned with the number of patients arriving at hospitals with dengue.

According to hospital reports, as many as 733 dengue patients arrived in the three government-run hospitals of Rawaplindi during the last two months.

On Saturday, 39 more patients were brought to the hospitals including 27 dengue patients in Holy Family Hospital, 10 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital and two in District Headquarters Hospital.

“After carpet fogging in Gawalmandi area once, no new dengue patient arrived from there. However, the number of patients increased from Dhoke Ratta even after spraying dengue mosquito repellent thrice in the areas,” Commissioner Zahid Saeed commented.

He sought a laboratory report of the quality of the mosquito-repellent and asked whether it is effective. He said the health department should also present a report on the ratio in which the mosquito repellent is mixed with diesel.

He emphasised that coordination among various civic bodies and provincial departments like health, environment, agriculture and labour was required to eliminate dengue.

The commissioner said work of departments should be visible through a decrease in the number of patients.

However, he praised the hospitals for good care of the dengue patients as no dengue associated death has been reported so far.

The participants of the meeting were informed that the provincial government has provided three blood test machines in three hospitals to avoid rush.

Additionally, the health department informed the participants that criminal cases will be lodged against owners of private houses where dengue larvae were found more than once.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2014