CDA health directorate asked to launch anti-dengue drive

Islamabad
Member Administration and Estate of Capital Development Authority (CDA) Amer Ali Ahmed Sunday directed the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) to initiate a result oriented campaign against dengue fever within the municipal limits of Islamabad to combat dengue before its outbreak season.
He directed DHS to remain vigilant and review high risk mapping exercise and larval habitat in the federal capital, said a press release issued here.
Amer Ali Ahmed said this while chairing a meeting held at CDA Headquarters to review the steps taken by the DHS to eradicate dengue fever.
The meeting was attended by senior officers of DHS, Enforcement, Sanitation and other concerned formations of the Authority.
He was apprised that the DHS has started a comprehensive campaign which would be completed in three phases. During the first phase, mapping of the potential breeding sites and high risk areas would be carried out.
In this regard, the DHS has completed survey of breeding sites like streams/nullahs, nurseries, green belts, junkyards, graveyards, bus stands, open plots, filtration plants, ‘katchi abadies’/urban slums, schools, petrol pumps, CNG stations, markets, parks, under construction buildings, trenching grounds, ponds, tyre shops, service stations, cattle ‘mandies’ etc.
Moreover, the DHS has constituted eight teams and each team comprising of four members to carryout detailed survey of breeding sites.
In the second phase, even during window period, the DHS initiated surveillance of vector and evidence based spray in high risk areas like ‘katchi abadies’/urban slums.
The meeting was apprised that in order to make this campaign a success, coordinated efforts of all formations of the Authority are also being ensured.
In this regard, solid waste management is being conducted on daily basis by Sanitation Directorate in addition to channelisation of nullahs/Streams by Environment Directorate of CDA.
It was also informed that as the staff of various directorates of CDA like Sanitation, Environment, Park, Municipal Administration, Enforcement, Building and CDA Model School is also being imparted with necessary training.
Moreover, staff of social welfare, ‘mulanas’ of Auqaf Directorate and Staff of Federal Directorate of Education will also be sensitised to contain the dengue fever at community level.
The meeting was further apprised that in order to create awareness among the masses, 100,000 pamphlets are planned to be distributed among general public at their door-steps in addition to installation of three hundred (300) banners at various busy and prominent sites of Islamabad as the third phase of the campaign.
Amer Ali said that due to climatic variations dengue larva is not confined to any particular season so we should remain active against dengue virus regardless of seasons.
He directed the Sanitation, Environment and Water Supply Directorates to ensure cleanliness, maintenance of sewerage and water supply lines and cutting of wild shrubs.