Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has decided to introduce a chapter in its high school syllabus regarding protection from dengue virus and preventive measures against the deadly disease. An FDE source told Pakistan Today that the chapter would be included in the syllabi for grade six to grade eight classes. “Yes, we are looking to include such a chapter in the high school syllabus regarding dengue and polio,” said FDE Director General Atif Kiyani, talking to Pakistan Today on Tuesday. “We will take a final decision in the coming two days,” he said. The Punjab Government has already decided to include such a chapter in the school syllabi.
Talking about the fumigation drive in educational institutions, the source said around 90 percent of the educational institutes of the city were yet to be fumigated against the spread of dengue mosquitoes. “Out of the total 420 educational institutes affiliated with the FDE, the fumigation was conducted at only 30, while not even a single federal government college has been fumigated yet,” the source said.
“Capital Development Authority has carried out spraying only in a few schools of Sector-G/7 and as far as rural areas are concerned, the Islamabad Capital Territory administration has carried out sprays in around 50 schools,” the source added. Meanwhile Dengue Control and Surveillance Islamabad Coordinator Dr Najeeb Durrani on Tuesday said eight more suspected dengue fever patients from the urban area of Islamabad had been admitted in the city’s hospitals during the last 24 hours. He said during the last 24 hours, 10 suspected dengue patients had also been brought into Islamabad’s hospitals from Rawalpindi, Mianwali, Attock and Lahore. He said 10 patients had been admitted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, six to Polyclinic and two to Capital hospital during the last 24 hours.
Dr Najeeb said that the fumigation drive was also carried out on Tuesday in various areas of the city including Muhammadi Town, Sohan, Bhara Kau, Shah Allah Ditta, Jori Rajgan, Haider Market, Jhang Saidan, Tarnol, Bangash Market, Sarae Kharbuza, Usman Town and Sadaat Colony.