- Toll rises to 97 in Punjab
- LWMC organises SWM and anti-dengue campaign at SOS village
Eight more people were diagnosed with dengue fever on Tuesday bringing the toll to 97.
Five were admitted in Mayo Hospital, one in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, one in Shahdara Hospital and one in Sheikhupura.
Officials have warned that the number of patients suffering from dengue fever is rising with the passage of time as weather changes. They assured that hospital management is trying its best to adopt precautionary measures in order to cope with the crisis but it is the duty of every citizen to play their role in this regard.
Dengue affects 50 to 100 million people in the tropics and subtropics each year, resulting in fever, muscle and joint aches. It can also be fatal developing into hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome, which is characterised by bleeding and a loss of blood pressure.
Caused by four strains of virus spread by mosquito Aedes aegypti, there is no known cure for the virus which is why prevention methods mainly focus on mosquito control. Dengue is particularly widespread in Punjab.
As of November 2011, over 300 people have lost their lives and over 14,000 were infected by it. Majority of the people infected were from Lahore.
ANTI-DENGUE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN HELD: The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) organised an awareness program on solid waste management (SWM) and anti-dengue at SOS village school in order to educate students about proper disposal of waste and precautionary measures to fight against dengue.
The principal and headmistress along with 500 students attended the awareness program which included lectures, screening of documentary and cartoon films, interactive session and quiz competition.
Manager Communication Memoona Arslan, Deputy Manager Shafqat Rasool, assistant managers Asad Ahmed and Umair Khan and team of social mobilisers represented the LWMC.
A documentary film comprising of information on precautionary measures to tackle dengue was also shown. The students showed great enthusiasm for learning and later participated in the questions and answers session. A quiz competition was held to check the students’ knowledge about dengue and sanitation issues. Winners were also awarded with prizes.
The principal thanked the LWMC for organising the campaign and making students aware of issues regarding sanitation. She urged the need of educating citizens on SWM from an early age and to make them learn the importance keeping their surroundings clean. She also stressed the need of developing respect for people involved in cleaning waste.
Manager Communication Memoona Arslan said that the prime objective of the activity was to teach students about the solid waste management system currently operating in the city and to educate and train them in following rules.