With prior approval of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, the health department has notified Sindh Prevention and Control of Dengue Regulation 2013.
The notification that has come into immediate effect covers all stakeholder including local government departments, officials with specific reference to health inspectors and citizens in general as well as the owners and occupants of properties, doctors, nurses, hospital and laboratory owners.
These stakeholders will be liable to penalty for failing to realise their responsibilities towards prevention and control of “Dengue Fever” in the province.
Citizens and local government authorities would be held directly responsible for knowingly or willfully failing to root out breeding grounds for mosquito causing dengue.
Intervention on the part of citizens to affect measures adopted by government authorities to eliminate breeding grounds for mosquitoes including any interruption to the fumigation campaign or allowing water to stand around their house or property will be strictly dealt with.
As per regulation, they would also be responsible to clear all obstructions of gutter, down pipes and drains installed in the properties owned or in their use so as to ensure smooth flow of water.
Moreover, citizens in general and those associated with businesses as construction, auto workshops and repair of motor vehicles tyres would also be required to destroy or adequately dispose off open tins, bottles, boxes, discarded tyres for motor vehicles or any type of receptacles with capacities of holding water.
Local authorities would be responsible to maintain drains, water courses or swamps, canals within their administrative limits. Data collection is also an essential component of the Sindh Dengue Prevention and Control Regulation under which administration and owners of all hospitals and laboratories would be required to immediately report to the concerned authorities about suspected cases of dengue fever.
As per law, it would be equally incumbent upon the doctors, nurses and healthcare service providers to communicate details of the patients they may come across with symptoms of the dengue fever.
