PHC seeks report on anti-dengue steps

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday directed the provincial government to submit a detailed report about measures taken to prevent the spread of the dengue virus in the provincial capital.

A division bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Khan and Justice Ijaz Anwar directed the provincial government through secretary Health to submit report before August 24, the date fixed for the next hearing into the case.

Saifullah Mohib Kakakhel advocate had filed the petition seeking order of the court for the district and provincial governments to take immediate steps for containing and eliminating dengue virus.

During hearing, District Health Officer (DHO) of Peshawar, Muhammad Gul, appeared in the court. However, he had no record to defend the government. Due to lawyers’ strike, the court adjourned the case till tomorrow (Thursday).  

The court had also summoned secretary Health and Peshawar deputy commissioner in the case, but they did not appear.

According to the petition, 10 people have died of dengue and hundreds have been infected recently.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government through chief secretary, secretary Health, secretary Local Government, secretary Law and Peshawar deputy commissioner were made parties to the petition.

The lawyer argued that hundreds of people, especially in Tehkal, on University Road and Warsak Road, had been infected with dengue virus.

“Now even the hospitals have stopped taking patients because they lack space and the patients are sent back to their houses,” the petitioner claimed.

About the reasons behind the spread of dengue virus, the petitioner stated that the respondents had dug the University Road for the construction of Bus Rapid Transit and there was now stagnant water in all the dugout places, which had bred the dengue.

As interim relief, the court was requested to direct the respondents to start fumigation drive in Peshawar to save people from dengue virus and also provide free health facilities to the infected patients.

The petitioner had also filed an application in the high court requesting to stop the provincial health minister and secretary Health from their offices and attach their salaries as they were not performing duties to overcome the outbreak of deadly dengue virus in the province.

The lawyer moved the court against the provincial government for not taking timely and effective steps to prevent spreading of the dengue virus in the provincial metropolis, resulting in the death of 10 people.