Commissioner to lead drive against dengue

PESHAWAR: Commissioner of Peshawar Division, Riaz Khan Mahsud, has announced his direct involvement in efforts to curb the spread of dengue across the division, pledging to oversee field operations personally.

Chairing a meeting on Monday, he issued directives for the immediate implementation of the Dengue Action Plan 2024 in all five districts of the Peshawar Division. “All deputy commissioners and district health officers must ensure that concrete results are achieved within the next 72 hours. No delay will be tolerated,” he said while addressing the divisional oversight committee meeting.

He ordered the setting up of medical camps in sensitive areas and directed that anti-dengue spray campaigns be conducted three times a day.The commissioner emphasized the need to allocate additional beds in hospitals for dengue patients, stressing that the availability of essential medicines must be guaranteed at all times.

“We cannot afford any lapses, especially with the possibility of a rise in dengue cases due to falling temperatures in October. Every resource must be mobilized,” he said, adding that the use of mosques and community centers (hujras) for public awareness campaigns would be critical in curbing the spread.

Taking notice of reports about unqualified practitioners administering improper treatments to dengue patients, he instructed a crackdown on quacks across all districts. “We will not allow any compromise on public health, and strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty of negligence,” he warned.

Riaz Mahsud also announced that he would begin field visits to monitor the ground situation, urging all relevant authorities to strengthen coordination and submit daily progress reports to his office.

It is worth mentioning here that the Health Department initially ignored the disease when its outbreak was reported in Peshawar’s densely populated Tehkal Bala and Tehkal Payan areas. Like in the past, the disease then spread to University Town and its adjoining areas.