Rallies, seminars mark Dengue Awareness Day in Punjab cities

MULTAN: On the directions of the Punjab government, all provincial government departments and divisional and district administrations observed the Dengue Awareness Day.

They organised seminars and walks to create awareness among the people about the deadly viral disease. A large number of civil society activists participated in seminars and anti-dengue walks. The South Punjab Agriculture Department organised a seminar and a walk. Addressing the seminar, South Punjab Agriculture Secretary Saqib Ali Ateel said that collective efforts were needed to eradicate the dengue mosquito breeding grounds to make the dengue eradication campaign a success. He urged the people to keep their offices, houses and water reservoirs clean so that dengue mosquitoes and viruses did not breed in the rainy season.

He said that the monsoon season was very conducive for the growth of dengue. He asked the heads of government departments to monitor anti-dengue activities in their offices, government residential colonies and surrounding areas.

The experts said that wastes should be discarded to eliminate dengue mosquito eggs and larvae. He said that a person suffering from dengue had a headache and the body also had an intermittent fever. The participants were told that old tyres, batteries, refrigerator trays, uninhabited areas, broken utensils, food wrappers and broken timber on the roofs should also be cleaned as they also helped in the growth of dengue larvae. They said that standing water could become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Later, a walk was organised under the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Saqib Ali Ateel.

Meanwhile, the Health Department also organised a walk and a seminar. Speaking on the occasion, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rizwan Nazir said that no case of dengue had been reported in the division. District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Ali Mehdi said that the Health Department teams were conducting house-to-house surveillance. Health focal person Dr Attaur Rehman said that more than 24 cases had been registered on the detection of larvae across the division. Awareness camps had been set up on main road of Multan, he added.

FAISALABAD: The Anti-Dengue Day was observed throughout the district with the commitment to continue a war against dengue. In this connection, an awareness walk was taken out, which was led by Deputy Commissioner Sohail Ashraf. It was organised from Metropolitan Corporation and culminated on the same place after passing through different roads. ADCG Qaiser Abbas Rind, CEO DEA Ali Ahmad Siyan, CEO DHA Dr Suleman Zahid, CO MCF Zubair Hussain, Divisional Forest Officers Wajihuddin Ahmad and Muhammad Ali Butt, educationist M Akhtar Butt and others participated in the walk. The participants of the walk were carrying banners and placards. Expressing his views, the deputy commissioner said that the anti-dengue campaign would continue with more vigor and determination. He said that all possible efforts were being made for the eradication of dengue at the government level. Earlier, a seminar was also organised.

LALAMUSA: The Dengue Awareness Day was observed in Gujrat district. Walks and seminars were organised by DC Office, Assistant Commissioners’ Offices, Metropolitan Corporation, Zakat and Usher Department and Environment Protection Department. Participants of an awareness walk led by Deputy Commissioner Rizwan Qadeer marched from DC Complex up to Tehsil Office. Speaking on the occasion, the deputy commissioner said that instructions had been issued to all departments to perform their duties effectively for the prevention of dengue. Special care should be taken for the cleanliness of the surrounding areas, including their offices, he added. He said that there was a danger of increase in dengue cases in view of the rainy season. All facilities should be made available in all government hospitals for dengue wards, he added. He asked the Health Department to monitor the dengue hotspots. The municipal corporations should make special arrangements for draining out rainwater, he added. Medical Superintendent Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Hospital Dr Abid Mahmood, CEO Health Dr Naeem Akhtar Janjua, CEO Education Chaudhry Aurangzeb, DHO Dr Zakir Ali Rana, Chief Officer Municipal Corporation Chaudhry Fayyaz Warraich and entomologist Samina were also present on the occasion.

JHANG: Dengue awareness seminars and walks were organised by the education, agriculture, health and other departments here on Saturday. The dengue awareness seminars were arranged at Government Boys Secondary School Rail Bazaar and Agriculture Department Deputy Director’s Office.

A dengue awareness walk was also organised which was led by DC Ahmed Kamal. The DC stressed the need for keeping the environment clean for the prevention dengue fever and other diseases. The students, teachers, health workers and people from different walks of life participated in the walk. Later, DC Ahmed Kamal chaired a meeting in his office to review the progress of different departments regarding anti-dengue activities.

OKARA: Chief Executive Officer Education Naheed Wasif has said the services of teachers and students are imperative to counter dengue. “We have to make a concerted effort to prevent this virus and teachers have to play a leading role in the anti-dengue campaign,” he remarked while leading an anti-dengue awareness walk organized by the education department.