LAHORE – Seminars, workshops and walks were held throughout Punjab, including the City, on Sunday to observe the Anti-Dengue Day.
People from all walks of life including parliamentarians, government officers, teachers, students, ulema and members of civil society participated in these events. The Day was aimed at raising awareness among the citizens regarding preventive measures for dengue eradication.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the anti-dengue campaign had now been transformed into a movement, in which all segments of the society were participating. He said the Punjab government and people had come into the field to fight dengue and as a result of collective efforts the dengue virus had been controlled to a large extent.
Talking to media persons after distributing pamphlets among the motorists at Central Point, Gulberg to mark the Day, the chief minister said with the cooperation of the people, an anti-dengue volunteer force had been established. He said the Punjab government had proved that it stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the people in every hour of trial.
“Preventive measures with regard to dengue virus have been made part of educational institutions’ syllabus, while dengue related questions have also been included in the examinations,” the chief minister said.
Shahbaz said the anti-dengue movement would continue on permanent basis. He noted that, as a result of effective steps taken by the government, the threat of dengue had been minimised as compared the previous years. He paid tributes to the civil society which supported the efforts of the government in controlling dengue menace.
Answering a question, the chief minister said there was no need for spray and fogging yet; however, targeted spray and fogging was being carried out at sensitive places, so that dengue breeding sites could be eradicated. He said all available resources were being utilised to overcome the dengue virus.
Replying to another query regarding spread of dengue virus in Karachi, the chief minister said he had extended all possible cooperation to the Sindh government in controlling dengue virus. He said Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah was like his elder brother, and whenever he ordered experts and medical teams from the Punjab would start helping their brethren in Karachi.
“The countries of Sri Lanka, Philippine, Thailand and Indonesia, which are the hub of dengue virus, have not been able to completely eliminate it; however, they have controlled it while we have also fought dengue in an effective manner,” the chief minister held.
Advisor Khawaja Salman Rafique, parliamentarians, office-bearers and the PML-N workers, Lahore Commissioner and other concerned officers were also present on the occasion.
DCO: Acting District Coordination Officer (DCO) Ahad Khan Cheema said the concerned staff continued the spray activity in all the union councils of the City. He appreciated all the arrangements made for the Day and shown his satisfaction regarding the performance of employees and officers. “Dengue kits and awareness pamphlets are also being distributed among the public”, he added.
LDA: Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Ahad Cheema inspected various parts of City including LDA Plaza, Edgerton Road, and other places on Sunday and reviewed cleanliness arrangements in connection with the anti-dengue drive. Secretary LOS Akbar Nakai informed Cheema that comprehensive measures had been adopted for eradicating the chances of the presence of dengue larva in and around the LDA Plaza.
LWMC: The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) arranged a rally to observe the Day. The rally was started from head office Shaheen Complex, Egerton Road which ended at Town Hall. LWMC Managing Director Waseem Ajmal Chauhdry led the march in which, senior management, LWMC employees and UET students took part in the activity.
EPD: The Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD) organised an awareness walk from Liberty Roundabout to Main Boulevard to observe the Day. MPA Khawaja Imran Nazir, EPA Director General Maqsood Ahmed Lakh, officers and officials of the department, representatives of various NGOs, people from various walks of life and a large number of students participated in the walk.
CITY TOWNS: Samanabad Town Emergency Dengue Response Committee Chairman and MNA Marghoob Ahmad called on all officers and officials participating in ongoing anti-dengue drive to continue their activities in a vigorous manner.
Presiding over a meeting at Samanabad Town held in connection with the Anti-Dengue Day on Sunday, Marghoob said all officers must perform their responsibility and instead of sitting in offices should take practical steps against dengue. An anti-dengue walk from Samanabad Town office to Gol Chakkar was also arranged on the occasion, which was led by Marghoob. People from all walks of life participated in the walk to create awareness among the masses.
Meanwhile, Aziz Bhatti Town Emergency Dengue Response Committee Chairman MPA Haji Allah Rakha said due to timely steps taken by the chief minister, the dengue virus was under control in the province, however collective efforts were required for its complete eradication.
He said this while leading a anti-dengue walk from Mughalpura to the new bridge which was participated by hundreds of people. The participants were carrying banners against dengue virus, while pamphlets were also distributed on the occasion.
HEALTH DEPT: Punjab Health Secretary Arif Nadeem on Sunday visited the DHQ Hospital Sheikhupura in connection with anti-dengue campaign, and reviewed arrangements made for the dengue patients, along with inspecting the high dependency units (HBUs). The secretary reviewed sanitary conditions of the hospitals and expressed his satisfaction over the steps taken to eliminate dengue breeding sites.
Furthermore, additional secretaries and health administration also visited the Mayo Hospital, Services Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Dental Hospital, PIC, Mental Hospital and the Lahore General Hospital to review anti-dengue arrangements.
Seminars and walks, in connection with the Day, were also arranged by all medical colleges and hospitals. In seminars held in the KEMU, the Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Asad Aslam Khan, MS Zahid Pervaiz and other medical experts stressed the need for adopting safety measures against the dengue virus.
An awareness walk, under the leadership of Principal Fakhar Imam and MS Dr Ijaz Sheikh, was also held at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, while the participants of the walk distributed awareness pamphlets among the citizens at Shaarey Fatima Jinnah. Similar seminars and walks were also held at the Services Hospital, Lahore General Hospital, Jinnah Hospital and Government Mian Munshi Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Post Graduate Medical Institute and Lahore General Hospital issued a booklet comprising information about symptoms, preventive measures and treatment of dengue disease.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: Following the directions of the Punjab government, all the educational institutions including universities, colleges and schools organised seminars and walks to observe the Anti-dengue Day on Sunday.
PUNJAB UNIVERSITY: All the teaching and non-teaching departments of the Punjab University (PU) were remained opened on Sunday. Various departments organised seminars to create awareness regarding the dengue fever. The PU teams were busy spraying insecticide at various places of both the campuses.
Vice Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran visited health centre, dengue control cell, hostel no 14, girls hostel number 2, 5 and adjacent hostels along with various heads of departments. During his conversation with students, Dr Kamran advised them to keep their environment clean to avoid spread of dengue mosquito. He also lauded the services of various PU teams deputed to destroy dengue breeding sites.
Dr Kamran said so far no case of dengue fever had been reported in the university. He said the PU students were doing research on dengue at PhD level. He said PU’s Dengue Research Group was actively digging out various findings with the help of other national institutions.
UVAS: University of Veterinary And Animal Sciences (UVAS) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha launched dengue awareness campaign and chaired a seminar on dengue eradication.
Speaking on the occasion, the VC said dengue could only be controlled through preventive steps. He urged the university employees and students to actively participate in dengue-eradication campaign and keep their surrounding areas clean. A documentary on dengue mosquito was also screened for the participants.
Deans of faculties Prof Nasim Ahmad, Prof Abdullah, Prof Ijaz Ahamd, Prof Habibur Rehman, Registrar Dr Afzal, faculty members and staff and students attended the seminar.
GCU: “Women should avoid make-up and perfumes as lactic acid, used in these products, attract dengue mosquitoes,” said experts while addressing a seminar on ‘Dengue Prevention and Control’ at the Government College University on Sunday. Vice chancellor Dr Khaleequr Rahman chaired the seminar which was attended by faculty members and students of the university.
“Most of the females catch dengue due to the use make-up which usually has rich concentration of lactic acid. Women should at least avoid make-up in the breeding season of dengue mosquitoes,” said Environmental Control Court (ECC) Judge and illustrious environmentalist Dr AR Saleemi while addressing the seminar.
Speaking on the occasion, GCU Zoology Department Chairperson Prof Dr Nusrat Jahan recommended biological control of dengue, saying that fumigation was useless because mosquitoes had developed resistance against the chemicals used in fumigation and sprays.
LCWU: The Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) held a walk in the campus to mark the Anti-Dengue Day on Sunday. Dean Dr Kousar Jamal Cheema, Registrar Prof Riffat Saqlain and other members from participated in the walk. After this a seminar was also held in auditorium where Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) policy advisor Faran Naru delivered a special lecture. 
Dr Kousar Jamal Cheema in her address said the LCWU had launched a special campaign against dengue and the VC had formed the dengue prevention and management committee to supervise the campaign. The committee was briefed that whole campus of LCWU had been fumigated and with the cooperation of the CDGL and the Health Department, this activity would be continued on a weekly basis.
A medical camp was also established in the Old Campus where students and staff would be examined and, if necessary, would be referred to hospitals for further treatment. LCWU medical officer Dr Hafsa would supervise the camp.
KINNAIRD COLLEGE: A seminar on “Dengue larvae detection, larviciding activities and elimination of breeding sites” was arranged at the Kinnaird College for Women to observe the Anti-Dengue Day on Sunday, which was attended by principal Dr Rukhsana David, all the deans of faculties, heads of departments, faculty members, administrative and support staff. The chief minister’s special team also visited the College for inspection.
RESCUE 1122: Following the directives by the chief minister, the Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue-1122) marked the Ant-Dengue Day with public awareness activities and preventive measures for dengue eradication all over the Punjab.
Rescue-1122 Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer reviewed these activities in a meeting held at the Emergency Headquarters on Sunday. The meeting was attended by inchargs of different sections of the Service whereas the district emergency officers were taken on board through video conference.
The meeting was briefed that awareness activities had been conducted in all the districts in collaboration with the CDGL. The district officers also informed the director general that cleanliness measures had been adopted at all the rescue stations, office premises, water holding equipment, containers and places to ensure that no stagnant water was left which may cause dengue proliferation.
SBP: All the staff and employees of the Sports Board Punjab (SBP) and Sports Directorate on Sunday held a walk to observe the Anti-Dengue Day. Sports Board Punjab Secretary Haroon Ahmed Khan led the walk and was accompanied Khawaja Salman Rafique and members of archeology and tourism departments.
The walk started from the Lahore Fort and ended at the main entrance of Minar-e-Pakistan. The participants were holding banners and placards for the awareness of the general public. They showed commitment to provide a clean environment to the young generation so that the healthy youth could actively serve the country.
CTPL: The City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) organised a dengue awareness seminar at Thokar Niaz Baig on Sunday. The Services and Shaikh Zayed hospitals’ doctors, DSPs and a large number of wardens participated in the seminar. Addressing the seminar, doctors said collective efforts were needed for dengue eradication.