Rawalpindi : The number of dengue cases being reported from Rawalpindi district has been registering a continuous upward trend as in the last 72 hours, another 55 patients have tested positive for the infection taking the total number of dengue patients so far reported from the district to 319 on Saturday.
Data collected by ‘The News’ on Saturday has revealed that another 21 individuals have tested positive for the infection from the district in the last 24 hours, which is the highest number of dengue cases reported in a day from the district this year so far.
According to District Health Authority Rawalpindi, the infection has so far claimed no life from the district though the number of admitted dengue patients from the district has reached 79 on Saturday including 29 confirmed cases.
Meanwhile, the DHA claimed that the health department is escalating its dengue control efforts in key hotspot areas of Potohar Town and the Cantonment, while also launching a new Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive to safeguard community health.
A high-level daily dengue review meeting, chaired by the CEO Health Dr. Ehsan Ghani, was held here at the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) Office that was attended by District Health Officer for Preventive Services Dr. Jawad Zahid, deputy district health officers from various tehsils, officers from the district administration, and partner staff from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
The meeting’s primary focus was a detailed hotspot analysis of dengue-prone areas in Potohar Town and the Cantonment. Officials in the meeting reviewed new and existing cases, assessed the effectiveness of ongoing spray campaigns, and reviewed strategies to enhance community engagement to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
The CEO Health directed all departments to intensify their surveillance and response in these areas to break the chain of transmission. Following the dengue review, the department officially inaugurated a 15-day HPV vaccination drive. This crucial campaign, which began on September 15, aims to elevate the health status of the community by protecting girls aged nine to 15 years from HPV-related diseases.
The drive was launched with a ceremonial inoculation of an eligible volunteer. In a message to the public, the CEO Health stated, “While we are fully committed to controlling the current dengue outbreak, we must also focus on long-term preventive health. This HPV vaccination drive is a critical step in that direction. The success of this initiative depends on the proactive role of our community members. We urge all parents to ensure their daughters, aged nine to 15, receive this vital vaccination”.
By participating in this drive, you are not only protecting your children but also contributing to the overall health and well-being of our entire city.
The Health Department urges residents of Rawalpindi to cooperate with health teams on the ground, both for dengue prevention and for the success of the vaccination drive.
