A rapid increase in cases of dengue fever should be a matter of serious concern both for the Federal and the Punjab governments. According to reports, three hospitals of Rawalpindi – Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital (formerly known as District Hospital) are receiving a heavy influx of dengue fever patients for the last one week. A total of 5726 patients so far have visited local public sector medical institutions this year and this does not include those who visited hospitals of Islamabad or preferred to avail diagnostic and treatment facilities in the private sector.
A sharp increase in dengue cases after monsoon is understandable because of the utterly poor state of sanitation and cleanliness in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Rawalpindi had become a model city when the responsibility of garbage lifting and mechanical sweeping was assigned to a Turkish firm but its contract was cancelled on frivolous considerations. Since then heaps of garbage can be seen on all streets and roads of Rawalpindi and the same is the situation in the Federal Capital. It is unfortunate that despite the lapse of over seven decades, we still have not been able to evolve a satisfactory system of garbage lifting and disposal and streets/roads littered with waste and poorly maintained sewerage system have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and flies playing havoc with the health of the citizens. In view of the magnitude of the disease a systematic and comprehensive campaign for spraying and cleaning with focus on affected localities should be launched on priority basis.
