LAHORE: The anti-dengue day is being observed in Punjab on Sunday (today) with a view to combat dengue in a befitting manner.

Sweeping will be carried out in government departments to remove the dengue breeding sites and hotspots. Seminars and walks led by elected public representatives will be organised for creating awareness among the masses.

A spokesman for the Health Department said the anti-dengue day would also be observed in offices of health departments, public hospitals and health centers while the health secretary had issued written directions to all concerned.He said the community participation would also be ensured in the activities of the anti-dengue day. The awareness campaign in both print and electronic media will be launched while awareness messages will be aired on local cable networks with the cooperation of district governments.

The spokesman said the dengue was a medical as well as a social problem and required full participation of the community.

He said that banners carrying dengue awareness messages would also be displayed at bus stops, railways stations and city terminals etc.

Meanwhile, Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique has directed offi-cers of departments and agencies concerned to pay special heed to dengue surveillance in graveyards, junkyards, godowns and constructions sites for the elimination of dengue breeding spots.

He directed the authorities concerned to remove grass and wild growth from graveyards to control dengue.

He said this while chairing a meeting of the cabinet committee on dengue at Civil Secretariat here on Saturday.

The meeting reviewed the steps taken by the town administration for dengue control, dewatering of rainwater from different ponds and disposal of solid waste from all towns.

Each town administrator presen-ted his performance report in this regard. The officers also highlighted the problems and requirements for dengue surveillance at the town level.

The administrators of Ravi Town, Data Ganj Bakhsh Town and Samnabad Town said since the stagnant rainwater at various points in their towns might become dengue breeding sites, Wasa should carry out special dewatering operation on a war footing basis.

At this, Additional Chief Secretary Aamir Sohail Mirza directed the Wasa managing director, the PHA and officers of the Education Department to ensure dewatering from open plots, grounds of different educational institutions and parks.