'Dengue Se Pak Pakistan' campaign launched

The Local Government & Community Development Department (LG&CDD), Health Department Punjab in collaboration with Mortein (Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan) and Plan International has launched a campaign to reduce the incidence of dengue across the province.
This was told by Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Provincial Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health, Dr Waseem Akram, Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Dengue virus, and Shahzeb Mehmood, CEO Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan, along with Adnan Laeeq, Plan International Pakistan representative at a press briefing at a local hotel Wednesday.
The campaign 'Dengue Se Pak Pakistan' will focus on combating dengue by educating people about undertaking proactive measures.
The past five years are a witness to copious dengue incidents with over 60,000 cases being reported nation-wide, most being from the province of Punjab.
In 2015 alone, 1,397 cases were reported in KPK while Sindh and Punjab accounted for 3,692 and 4281 of dengue victims.
Talking about this campaign, Shahzeb Mehmood said, "Mortein has been working closely to educate people regarding protection from mosquito-borne diseases, especially dengue, since the past few years. We appreciate the support that Government of Punjab has extended towards this campaign.
This initiative aims to reach out to the larger population of Punjab by empowering and enabling families to take proactive measures to avoid the incidence of dengue."
Khawaja Salman Rafiq, on this occasion, said, "The Government of Punjab is working on the grass-root level to ensure reduction in the incidence of dengue cases in the province.
For this purpose, we will be facilitating Mortein's on-ground efforts are hopeful that this awareness building strategy will bear fruitful results.
The most important aspect is to equip people adequately to avoid mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue."
Under the 'Dengue Se Pak, Pakistan' campaign, Plan International Pakistan and Mortein will target high risk districts and UC's all over Punjab, through a number of pre-planned activities characterised by a combination of innovative approaches to generate maximum impact and learning.
To this end, a 'Dengue Se Pak Pakistan' anthem sung by prominent vocalist Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was also launched at the event. The anthem will form an integral part of the campaign's awareness strategy.