Punjab observes Anti-Dengue Day

Lahore: On the directives of Punjab Chief Minister, Anti-Dengue Day was observed throughout the province today to raise awareness against dengue menace. Seminars and walks were arranged in all divisional and district headquarters of Punjab, alongwith provincial metropolis. These anti-dengue walks were led by provincial ministers, Members National and Provincial Assembly, Divisional commissioners and DCOs in which social workers, students and persons belonging to all walks of life participated. They reiterated their determination to defeat the dengue menace by keeping the streets, mohallahs and houses clean.

An anti dengue walk was held at Data Gunj Bukhsh Town, under the leadership of Provincial Minister for Food Bilal Yasin which was attended by a large number of people along with MPA Majid Zahoor, Secretary Local Bodies Jawad Rafique Malik, Commissioner Lahore Division, DCO Lahore, students and social workers. Talking on the occasion, Minister Food Bilal Yasin said that, like previous year, dengue disease, which is extremely dangerous, should be defeated with unity. Students, present on the occasion, vowed that they would defeat the dengue menace by supporting the efforts of Chief Minister. Chairman Cabinet Committee for Elimination of Dengue and Provincial Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed urged the citizens to keep their water utensils covered and wear full sleeve dress. He said citizens should use mosquito repellent lotion as well. The Minister led the walk at Gulshan Ravi, during which anti mosquito coil and repellent lotion packets were distributed among the participants free-of-cost.

An anti-dengue awareness walk was held in Wahga Town, from Jallo Morr to Battapur, under the leadership of Environment Minister Col. (Retd) Shuja Khanzada and attended by Secretary Environment Anwar Rasheed. Addressing on the occasion, the Environment Minister said that Punjab government is working on war footings to eliminate dengue larvae. He said 12 teams have been formulated in Wahga Town, and women volunteers are distributing anti-dengue awareness pamphlets and brochures.

While leading an anti-dengue walk in Shalimar Town, Provincial Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said that Lahore would be made dengue-free, in accordance with the vision of Shahbaz Sharif. He said in case of dengue fever, citizens should approach special doctors. He said that over 12000 volunteers in Shalimar Town are playing their role in creating awareness against dengue.

Provincial Minister for Health Khalil Tahir Sindhu, while talking to media representatives, said that surveillance teams, consisting of lady health workers and volunteers, are visiting every house, which would go a long way in eliminating the dengue menace. He said that free-of-cost treatment of dengue patients is being carried out in all government hospitals, while all hospitals are being monitored.

An anti-dengue walk was also held, from Samanabad Town to Gol Chakkar which was led by MNA Mehr Ishtiaq and Secretary Education Abdul Jabbar Shaheen. Mehr Ishtiq said that if preventive measures are adopted by the people in their daily lives, dengue disease can be uprooted.

Provincial Minister for Auqaf and Religious Affairs Syed Sultan Haroon led an anti-dengue walk at Aiwan-e-Auqaf. He said campaign against dengue virus should continue till its complete elimination for which every citizen has to play a role. He urged ulema to apprise the people of importance of cleanliness, in the light of holy teachings, as dengue mosquito can only be eliminated through cleanliness.

In Ravi Town, anti-dengue walk was held, from Government Shahdarah Teaching Hospital to Shahdarah Morr, which was led by MNA Malik Riaz, MPA Imran Nazir and Secretary Labour Capt. (Retd) Muhammad Yousaf. Malik Riaz said every citizens has to play due role in elimination of dengue disease. Addressing a seminar at Forests Complex, Secretary Forestry Major (Retd) Shahnawaz Malik said that main aim of anti-dengue day is not to read pamphlets and hear lectures, but to implement preventive measures against dengue menace.

An anti-dengue awareness walk was arranged in Iqbal Town which was attended by Member National and Provincial Assemblies Afzal Khokhar, Mian Marghoob Ahmed, Faisal Malook Khokhar, Iftikhar Gujjar, Secretary Cooperatives, intellectuals and media persons.

An anti-dengue was also arranged, under the auspices of Gulberg Town and Social Welfare Department, from Liberty Chowk to Hussain Chowk, which was led by MPA Mohsin Latif and Secretary Cooperatives Sultan Aizad Khan. The participants of the walk expressed their determination that anti-dengue campaign would effectively continue to create awareness among the citizens and to defeat the dengue menace.

The Health Department also arranged an anti-dengue day walk at Cooper Road. Addressing the participants, Special Secretary Health Babar Hayat Tarar said that the dengue mosquito is entering inside the houses because of reduction in temperature, therefore, it is incumbent upon the citizens to eliminate the hot spots inside their houses to stop dengue mosquito from breeding.

On the occasion of Anti-Dengue Day, an awareness walk was arranged by Gulberg Town and Social Welfare Department from Liberty Chowk to Hussain Chowk. The awareness walk, which began in the morning at Liberty Chowk at 9:30am was attended by Secretary Social Welfare and Chairman Town Emergency Response Committee Gulberg Town Altaf Aizad Khan, under the leadership of MPA Mohsin Latif. The walk was also attended by MPA Dr. Farzana, Commissioner Lahore Division, Special Secretary Health, Assistant Commissioner Model Town, officials of Health Department, Rescue-1122, PHA and citizens from all walks of life in a large number.

A dengue awareness walk in connection with Anti-Dengue day was organized by the administration of Data Gunj Bakhsh Town, which started from Data Town office and ended at Town Hall. Awareness walk was headed by Provincial Minister for (Food) Punjab Bilal Yasin, Commissioner Lahore Division Rashid Mehmood Lungrriyal, DCO Lahore Dr. Ahmed Javed Qazi, Special Secretary Local Government Punjab Dawood Ahmed, MPA Majid Zahoor and others. Town Officials, PHA, LWMC, Civil Defence, Health Officials and people belonging to different walks of life, including a large gathering of Schools and Colleges students participated in walk. The participants were charting slogans against Dengue virus and committed to combat Dengue until it was completely eliminated from all nine towns of city and from the entire province. The participants had steamers and banners in their hands, stating slogans” Murder Dengue” Run away from Lahore City”. “Be united to eliminate Dengue”.