Daily Times

KARACHI: In yet another attempt to ‘understand and share the experience’ regarding how to improve cleanliness in the metropolis in order to control the chikungunya outbreak, a team of World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday reached Karachi to develop a ‘detailed plan of action’. The move is to provide support to the Sindh health department regarding the outbreak which is mainly because of not collecting of garbage from the city and dearth of vector killing spray.

On first day of the three-day long tour, the nine-member WHO team held meetings health officials. Meeting also comprised of officials from all six Districts of Karachi, representatives of Dengue Prevention and Control Cell Sindh and Malaria Control Program Sindh. However Solid Waste Management Sindh and District Municipal Corporation (DMC), main institutions responsible to lift the garbage in the city were not invited.

“We were not invited in the meeting,” said AD Sajnani, Managing Director Solid Waste Management Sindh.

“However we fail to understand that what expertise WHO has which Sindh government does not have to control the vector,” said Sanjnani.

Citing the example, Sajnani when dengue emerged in Pakistan, it was Sindh who controlled the vector by its own unlike Punjab who opted for foreign experts including from Sri Lanka.

Chairman District Municipal Corporation (DMC) Center Rehan Hashmi.while talking to Daily Times said that the ‘ill intentions’ of Sindh Government towards elected local bodies representatives were not invited in the meeting held for such core issue.

However he said local bodies representatives of Karaachi in short period of time are trying their best to combat chikungunya and dengue outbreaks and collecting the garbage from city.

WHO team will also visit various disease stricken areas today, in Karachi before coming up with a plan on Thursday.

However the departments were still not on the same page on how to uplift the garbage from the city – the main cause of growth of vector.

While calling WHO’s recent meeting a ‘routine matter’, Dr Mohammad Taufeeq, Health Director Karachi said whenever there is an outbreak, WHO sends its team as government has joint venture with the WHO.

When asked what WHO would do new that will improve the situation the city he said government was already working on the guidelines given by WHO specially in collecting the garbage.

However in one go he also acknowledged the matter of mismanagement of lifting the garbage from the city but he shifted the responsibility on Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC)’s shoulders.

“Sindh Health Department was doing its due part when it comes to sparing to vanish the vector. However at micro level, etc spray in streets, it was basically duty of KMC.

Similarly when official of WHO was inquired about the how helpful the visit of team comprising nine members who traveled from Islamabad and abroad could be, official showed complete ignorance.

“Wait till this meeting ends. WHO Office will release a statement,” Dr Sara Salman, the head of WHO Sindh said. She added, “We, the WHO and government are on the same page as this is a joint venture. However I can not tell you right now.”