Dengue Cell ill-equipped, Karachi unprepared to combat spread of virus

KARACHI: Program Manager of the Dengue Surveillance and Prevention Cell declares Karachi is ill-equipped and unprepared to tackle the life threatening spread of the dengue virus.

The virus has already claimed 8 lives in Karachi while over 2,250 cases of dengue cases have been reported across the province this year. A large population of the city is at risk unless effective measures are not taken by the concerned authorities.

During a high level meeting chaired by Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui on Dengue and its prevalence in the metropolis, the program manager of the surveillance and prevention cell Dr. Masood Solangi revealed that they do not have enough funds, humans resource or dengue kits.

Additionally Dr Solangi also revealed that they are unable to monitor data regarding the incidence of dengue as they do not have basic necessities such as fuel provisions access to telephones or fax machines.

Commissioner Karachi has written to the Secretary Health requesting that funds be released on an emergency basis without with it will be near impossible to combat the spread of dengue in the city.



The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) municipal services department had to discontinue their Anti-Dengue Spray campaign due to non-payment of dues; the chief minister had to intervene for the dues to be cleared and the campaign to resume after a gap of ten days.