“Criminal cases will be registered against government officials if their offices are found infested with dengue larvae,” District Coordination Officer Noorul Amin Mengal said on Wednesday.
Presiding over a meeting, Mengal said anti-dengue squads would carry out raids at industrial units, commercial buildings, tyre shops, junkyards and nurseries.
The DCO said a health emergency had been declared in the district. “Health Department officials should be prepared to control the spread of dengue fever,” he said.
Mengal said strict action would be taken against negligent officials.
The DCO said a comprehensive directory containing information related to junkyards, graveyards, tyre shops, nurseries and water bodies should be prepared.
He said surveillance should be carried out regularly to eliminate mosquito breeding sites. Mengal stressed the need to focus on the larvae-cidal measures. He said an awareness campaign should be launched to educate the people. Punjab Anti-Dengue Prgramme Coordinator Dr Wasim Akram said joint efforts were needed to control larvae breeding.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2014.