Steps sought to cope with dengue spread in Nowshera

NOWSHERA: Dengue virus has spread in several localities of the Nowshera district, leaving the people worried, said local government (LG) representatives on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference, Qazi Wajidul Haq, Mahiruddin, Abdussamad Paracha and Faiz Paracha said several dengue cases had been reported from Nowshera Kalaan, Dherikhel and Parachgan Mohallahas, and several other localities.

They said people were suffering from dengue fever because of the spread of

the virus.

The LG representatives complained that not enough facilities were available at the state-run health facilities to tend to the patients suffering from dengue fever.

They said the civic authorities such as tehsil municipal administration should have taken steps such as carrying fumigation and disposing of garbage from various points but that was not done.

The LG representatives alleged that the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital and Qazi Hussain Medical Complex did not have the mosquito nets, medicines and other facilities to treat the dengue patients.

They said the people were compelled to buy medicines from the market at higher rates.

The speakers said the wards allocated for the dengue patients at government hospitals were lacking in facilities which was a source of concern.

TMO Shahana Sikanadar, when approached, said 45 sanitation workers had been suspended over dereliction of duty and the civic body was facing a shortage of manpower. “However, the issue will be sorted out,” she said adding cleanliness would be improved and fumigation done in different

localities.

The head of the DHQ Hospital, Mujtaba Ali, said an isolation ward had been set up at the facility for the dengue patients and medicines were available for the purpose.

The spokesman for the Qazi Hussain Ahmad Medical Complex, Mian Kasteer Gul Kakakhel, too, denied the lack of facilities for dengue patients.