RAWALPINDI: There is no let-up in the arrival of dengue patients in the city’s three government-run hospitals, with 43 more cases reported on Friday, bringing the total to 543 for the current season.

However, there are no arrangements for dengue patients at the Rawalpindi Cantonment General Hospital yet, as the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board has failed to establish a dengue ward despite the majority of patients coming from cantonment areas.

The federal government had allocated over Rs500 million in 2018 for renovations under a special grant from former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, but instead of serving the public, the hospital has primarily become a facility for RCB officials. Most people prefer the public hospitals operated by Rawalpindi Medical University, which is under the administrative control of the Punjab government.

Treatment and medicines at government-run hospitals in Rawalpindi are free, whereas the Cantonment General Hospital charges fees from patients. A significant number of dengue patients have been reported in the three government-run hospitals, including Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, and District Headquarters Hospital.

Islamabad chief commissioner, Pindi commissioner chair joint meeting, direct fogging operations in twin cities

All the patients in government hospitals have come from areas such as Shakrial, Chaklala Scheme-III, Old Airport Road, Rehmatabad, Dhoke Chaudhrian, Ch. Bostan Khan Road, Dhamial, Chak Jalaldin, Girja, Dhoke Ratta, Saidpur Scheme, Dhoke Munshee, Dhoke Kala Khan, Chamanzar Colony, Gulraiz, Bangish Colony, Peshawar Road, and adjoining areas of Rawalpindi and Chaklala Cantonment Board.

On Sunday, 240 patients arrived at the three government hospitals, with 43 testing positive for dengue fever. 20 were reported at the Holy Family Hospital (HFH), 18 at Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), and five at Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Aamir Khattak on Friday directed the secretaries of the Punjab Food Authority and Labour Department to take action against local officials for their absenteeism from meetings and unsatisfactory performance in anti-dengue activities.

He emphasised the urgent need to restore the damaged pump at Sangjani to ensure a reliable water supply to surrounding areas in Rawalpindi, as stagnant water can become a breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes. The commissioner also instructed the Rawalpindi Development Authority to ensure housing societies pay special attention to under-construction buildings and overgrown bushes.

Mr Khattak presided over a review meeting of the anti-dengue campaign, which included participation from Rawalpindi Medical University Vice Chancellor Dr Mohammad Umer, RDA Director General, Director of Health, and heads of other relevant departments.

The health department provided a briefing on the latest dengue situation and stressed the importance of seeking immediate medical attention for fever or other dengue symptoms.

Islamabad

The administration of Rawalpindi and Islamabad were directed to launch fogging operations and work jointly in the fight against dengue.

The directives were issued by Chief Commissioner Islamabad Mohammad Ali Randhawa and Commissioner Rawalpindi Amir Khattak, while co-chairing a joint meeting on dengue prevention in Islamabad.

An official press release said the deputy commissioner of Islamabad briefed the meeting on the current dengue situation, ongoing surveillance activities, and preventive measures in place. Similarly, DC Rawalpindi shared measures taken and the challenges being faced.

The meeting was told that the number of reported dengue cases was more than that of last year, but government hospitals had sufficient beds to accommodate patients.

An official source said 467 cases had been reported in Islamabad in the current season with 34 cases in the last 24 hours.

The chief commissioner directed that Islamabad and Rawalpindi administrations should enhance coordination in the border areas to ensure timely action. Focal persons were appointed to facilitate effective communication between both cities. He also emphasised the importance of joint efforts to eliminate dengue breeding sites and called for increased public awareness, particularly targeting vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children. Educational institutions were urged to participate in this awareness campaign.

The meeting also decided to provide specialised training for doctors and medical staff in both public and private hospitals.

The chief commissioner stressed the need for intensified surveillance in areas reporting dengue cases and directed assistant commissioners to closely monitor the situation in their respective areas.

He also called for comprehensive fogging operations across the twin cities and encouraged both administrations to work together as a unified team in the fight against dengue. Every year a large numberof patients suffer from dengue fever particularly in bordering areas of both cities.

The most common symptoms of dengue are high-grade fever accompanied by the joint and muscular aches. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for dengue but early detection and proper medical care can lower mortality, otherwise, this disease may turn into life threatening haemorrhagic fever, which may leadto bleeding and dangerously low blood pressure.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2024