DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Secretary Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Adeel Shah, on Friday visited several areas of Peshawar as part of an ongoing anti-dengue campaign and personally inspected potential dengue mosquito breeding sites, distributed awareness pamphlets, and handed out mosquito nets to local residents.
The Health Secretary, accompanied by Director General of Health Services Dr. Muhammad Saleem Khan, Focal Person for the Dengue Control Program Dr. Ikram Ullah Khan, and District Health Officer Dr. Idrees Khan.
During the visit, Secretary Health Adeel Shah participated in an awareness walk with the residents of Tehkal and the Irrigation Colony on Warsak Road. He interacted with the public, going door to door, and educated them about the dangers posed by dengue mosquitoes and the rapid spread of dengue fever.
Adeel Shah highlighted that the number of dengue cases has risen recently and stressed the importance of identifying and eliminating mosquito breeding grounds. He urged the community to take simple yet effective measures, such as ensuring water does not accumulate in places like refrigerators, room coolers, flowerpots, or rooftops, which serve as common breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes.
To combat the spread of the disease, Secretary Health directed district health teams to conduct daily visits to high-risk areas to ensure they remain free of dengue mosquitoes.
“We are committed to eradicating dengue from these areas, and daily monitoring is essential to control the disease swiftly,” he said.
Adeel Shah also mentioned that public awareness messages are being disseminated across multiple platforms, including television, radio, social media, and through announcements at BRT bus stations, to educate the public on dengue prevention.
The Secretary Health informed that the Health Department has so far distributed over 400,000 mosquito nets across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “The situation remains under control, with active dengue cases significantly lower compared to previous years. Our proactive efforts are helping to manage the outbreak effectively,” he added.
Director General Health Services, Dr. Muhammad Saleem Khan, emphasized that dengue control teams are active in every district, and the Dengue Action Plan 2024 is being executed. This plan focuses on patient management and increased public awareness of vector-borne diseases.
“Our collaboration with relevant departments is crucial to enhancing control measures across the province,” said Dr Muhammad Saleem Khan.
He noted that intensified efforts are being made in highly affected areas such as Peshawar, Kohat, Nowshera, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Khyber, and Bajaur. Special teams have been deployed to carry out dengue spraying operations during peak times, at dawn and dusk, while public awareness campaigns have been further ramped up.
Dr Muhammad Saleem Khan urged the public to continue following preventive measures to help control the spread of the disease. He assured that the Health Department is using all available resources to safeguard citizens from dengue fever.
Focal Person for the Dengue Control Program, Dr. Ikram Ullah Khan, reported that the province currently has 1,200 active dengue cases, with 85 new cases identified in the last 24 hours. He praised the public’s cooperation in ongoing district-level campaigns and expressed optimism that with continued community involvement, the dengue outbreak will soon be brought under control.
