LAHORE: Awareness sessions and walks in connection with ‘Dengue Day’ were observed in the government and private institutions of the provincial capital to sensitise the masses regarding the disease and precautionary measures to check the dengue breading on Saturday. Fatima Memorial Hospital observed Dengue Day with an awareness walk to highlight precautionary measures of the disease among the general public. Fatima Memorial Hospital Infection Control Officer Dr Shahzad Naseem said, “FMH has always been vigilant to minimise the incidents of dengue by vector control. The measures taken by FMH include availability of educational material for general public and the hospital staff, display of banners within the institution and regular rounds to ensure that there are no breeding grounds for mosquitoes within the premises of the hospital.” Meanwhile, the students, staff and faculty of the University of Health Sciences (UHS) staged a walk to create public awareness about dengue fever and its prevention. Carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans, the participants of the walk showed great enthusiasm. Addressing the participants, Prof Aslam khan of UHS Human Genetics Department said that the university was maintaining to keep its campus a “Dengue Free Zone”. In this regard, he added, consecutives surveillance on scientific footing was being carried out on various spots around the campus. Similarly, the administration of Services Hospital, Mayo Hospital, Lahore General Hospital, Jinnah Hospital, Ganga Ram Hospital and other government and private hospitals arranged walks and seminars to highlight the causes and preventions of dengue fever. Primary and Secondary Health Department Secretary Ali Jan Khan led a walk arranged by the department. The walk started from the Directorate General Health Services and ended at the Punjab Assembly. Punjab Health DG Dr Mukhtar Hussain Sayed, Dengue Control Additional Director General Dr Fayyaz Butt, Punjab Non-communicable Disease Control Director Dr Haroon Jehangir Khan, officials and nursing students participated in the walk. They displayed placards on which anti-dengue slogans and precautionary measures against dengue were inscribed. Ali Jan Khan on the occasion said that coordinated efforts by the government departments and the community were essential to control the menace. He said removal of stagnant water and cleanliness was the basic requirement to check dengue breading, adding that at present no dengue patient was under treatment in any hospital of Punjab. He said that due to the rains, the next two to three months would be the peak season of dengue. Therefore, vigorous effort by the government departments and the community is more significant, he added. Moreover, an anti-dengue walk was also arranged in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital where Medical Superintendent Dr Nouman Maqbool led a large number of doctors and officials of the hospital. An awareness walk against dengue was also held in Lady Aitchison Hospital. Medical Superintendent Dr Samina led the walk and distributed pamphlets among the patients and their attendants. Similarly, an awareness walk against dengue was organised in the Directorate of Internal Audit Health Department, Allama Iqbal Town. Internal Audit Wing Director Sarfraz Ahmed informed that the officers and the staff of the department participated in the walk. The participants visited door-to-door in Huma Block and sensitised the residents regarding the measures to remove the dengue hotspots from their houses and to protect themselves from mosquito’s bites. However, Punjab Agriculture Department observed the Dengue Day and held several walks and seminars in different locations of the city to spread awareness.