Daily Times

LAHORE: Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister on Health, Salman Rafiq said on Sunday that a cleanliness drive underway to control dengue should be continued in both government and commercial buildings as well as residential areas.

Rafiq said that collective efforts of the government departments and the public are required to control this disease. He was talking to newsmen after monitoring the cleanliness drive in the Directorate General Health offices to eradicate dengue hot spots. The adviser said that on the directions of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif a cleanliness day has been observed in the government departments to check dengue breeding. Punjab DG Health Dr Zahid Pervaiz, Additional Director General Dengue Control Dr Islam Zafar, officers and officials of the relevant departments were also present on the occasion.

Rafiq inspected the roofs of the buildings of the Directorate General Health Services and took notice of dumping of discarded things there. He ordered they be immediately shifted to a safe place to prevent rainwater accumulation in them, which leads to dengue mosquito breeding. The adviser noted that other government departments have also taken effective measures to control dengue. However, continuous rains and lowering of the temperature have increased chances of dengue breeding, therefore, the government departments and the public should remain vigilant and ensure cleanliness in their offices and residences.

Responding to a question, Rafiq said that FIRs have been registered against commercial buildings, junkyards, construction sites and tyre shops where dengue larva has been detected. Also, the district government officials have marked with stickers the doors of the houses where larva has been detected in order to create pressure on the residents to ensure cleanliness. Salman Rafiq said that SoPs for dengue control are equally applicable to the government buildings, and action has been taken against those government departments who have been found violating dengue regulations. Rafiq also visited Mayo Hospital and reviewed the cleanliness campaign in the hospital. DG Health Dr Zahid Pervaiz, MS Dr Amjad Shehzad and administration doctors were also present on the occasion. Rafiq also directed draining of rainwater that had accumulated on the road outside the hospital.