1,000 female students volunteer for anti-dengue drive in Pindi

RAWALPINDI: The district administration has formed a volunteer force comprising 1,000 female students to combat the ongoing dengue threat by raising awareness across the district and improving compliance with dengue standard operating procedures (SOPs).
The programme was launched at a ceremony at Waqar-e-Nisa College, where parliamentarians distributed 'Chief Minister Dengue Warrior Cards' to the volunteers. 
District Health Officer Dr Ehsan Ghani conducted a specialised training session, equipping the students with essential knowledge about dengue fever and their roles in awareness campaigns.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema pointed out that 65pc of dengue patients are women, primarily homemakers. He stressed the need for a sustained effort in Rawalpindi, home to around one million residents, to effectively prevent dengue outbreaks. He noted that recent fatalities from the disease were largely due to self-medication and delayed medical intervention.
MPA Amna Hassan Shaikh drew parallels between the lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing fight against dengue. She announced that the Chief Minister had set the cost of dengue testing at Rs90 across all hospitals, encouraging timely testing for those showing symptoms.
Amina further emphasised the need for collaboration between the district administration and parliamentarians to strengthen collective efforts against dengue.