THE tragedy of this country is not its inability to counter formidable challenges, but its irresponsible behaviour in terms of matters that are fairly easily resolved.

Unfortunately, the latter are not considered deserving of the requisite political will. Consider the case of dengue fever, the potentially life-threatening illness that is contracted through mosquito bites.

Also read: Dengue death toll rises to 10 in Rawalpindi

The outbreak can be widespread, as it was during the summer of 2011, when over 300 people lost their lives. Subsequently, fumigation drives were initiated along with an awareness-raising campaign.

Four years on, though, it is evident that the issue has not been dealt with firmly enough to bring it entirely under control. So far this season, in the Rawalpindi/Islamabad area, over 2,500 cases have been reported and the death of a teenager in Holy Family Hospital on Sunday brought up the number of lives lost to 10.

Lahore has fared better with only one death so far, but dozens of people have been infected and are in need of treatment; Karachi has so far seen at least seven deaths, and the reporting of dozens of cases.

There are two problems in the government’s fight against dengue. First, there is the lack of consistency in carrying out fumigation drives and the areas they cover.

Take a look: Woman dies of dengue fever as Karachi death toll climbs to seven

Where, on the one hand, there are locations where spraying has never taken place, or has taken place too sporadically to be effective, on the other there are examples of folly such as that in Attock last month when dozens of schoolgirls fainted because of over-spraying in poorly ventilated premises.

Secondly, and much more shamefully, even now — several years after ‘dengue’ has become a familiar term in every household in the country — it is still being reported that the contraction of the virus is not necessarily being properly identified in medical facilities, and that medical staff are slow in conducting tests and providing treatment.

Until these loopholes are plugged, more will continue to die. Is it too much to ask that provincial administrations sort themselves out?

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2015

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