RAWALPINDI, March 17: During its ongoing larva siding campaign, the district health department has identified 71 breeding grounds of dengue mosquitoes in different parts of the district.

This was informed in a meeting, which was presided over by acting commissioner Saqib Zafar, held at Commissioner Office on Saturday to review arrangements for anti-dengue campaign in the district.

The meeting was attended by Executive District Officer (EDO) Health Dr Zafar Iqbal Gondal, Managing Director Parks and Horticulture Agency (PHA) Capt (retired) Mushtaq Ahmed, Additional District Collector (General) Saif Anwar Jappa, in charge Anti-Dengue Campaign Dr Ansar Ishaq, District Food Controller Shafiq Niazi and officials of other departments concerned.

EDO Health Dr Zafar Iqbal Gondal, in his briefing, said during the current larva siding campaign in the district, 99,700 houses were checked and in 71 houses presence of dengue larvae was found where spray had been conducted.

Acting Commissioner Saqib Zafar directed the district health department and municipal administration authorities to complete larva siding campaign till March 31 and launch anti-dengue spray from April 1 so that dengue mosquitoes might not flourish.

He said graveyards, ponds and public places should not be ignored in this campaign and the ongoing drive against tyre shops be accelerated. Private and cooperative housing societies as well as private school administrations should be served notices to arrange fumigation on their own, he said.

The acting commissioner also directed the health department of City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) to also focus on godowns of food department.

The district officer (fisheries) has been directed by the district coordination officer to send complete data of government-run ponds to his office so that anti-dengue spray might be carried out there.

The health department officials informed the meeting that in 13 union councils of Potohar Town, this campaign had been completed while in the remaining UCs the drive was underway and would be completed by the end of the current month.

In Rawal Town, 273 tyre shops were inspected and the tyres placed in the open were shifted inside the shops. Similarly, 172 hotels and restaurants were checked and served warning notices to ensure cleanliness of their kitchens. They had also been asked to drain out the accumulated water.

Managing Director Parks and Horticulture Agency Capt (retired) Mushtaq Ahmed informed the meeting that in the public parks of Rawalpindi city, the larva siding campaign was in progress.

He said PHA staff had been provided special uniform for the campaign and the spray would commence from April 1.