WHILE dengue has recently claimed its 11th victim in Sindh this year, no effective vector-control drive has been launched in the province, especially in Karachi, which is most vulnerable to the disease. What is even more bizarre is that Sindh’s health authorities have turned down Punjab’s offer to help deal with dengue. Around 1,000 cases have been reported in Sindh so far, the vast majority in Karachi. Local health officials have shortlisted several city localities as ‘vulnerable’, yet no visible fumigation drives have been carried out in most of these areas.

Punjab has done commendable work in containing dengue; while the epidemic of 2011 saw thousands infected by the vector-borne disease and over 200 fatalities, this year only 71 cases have been reported in the province so far. What is more, Punjab has sent experts to help the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government battle dengue as Swat district has reported around 2,000 cases. That’s the way it should work: if one province lacks the capacity or expertise to deal with a major public health threat, it is only logical to seek help from those who have experience in dealing with such situations. It should be remembered that Sri Lankan experts offered crucial help to the Punjab administration in 2011 to deal with the dengue threat. This fact has been acknowledged by the provincial government. Hence it wouldn’t hurt for Sindh’s health officials to compare notes with their counterparts in Punjab to learn from their experience in order to save lives. We certainly hope there are no political reasons for turning down Punjab’s offer. Politics should have no role to play in issues as critical as public health. The KP and Punjab governments have cooperated in this regard despite being headed by different parties. Authorities in KP and Sindh need to step up their efforts to tackle dengue before it turns into another epidemic. Vector-control efforts and campaigns informing the public about safety precautions must be vital components of the anti-dengue drive.