The District Health Office Islamabad has launched a coordinated campaign to intensify Dengue Prevention across the capital, issuing advisory notices to public and private institutions and activating inter-departmental collaboration ahead of the peak season.

Advisories sent to schools, colleges and private educational administrations stress strict adherence to dengue prevention SOPs, robust environmental sanitation, protection measures for students and staff, and the nomination of focal persons or central coordinators within each institution to ensure timely implementation.

A formal request to the Capital Development Authority’s Directorate of Sanitation calls for urgent action on potential breeding sites, including removal and safe disposal of discarded tyres, desilting of drains, improved solid waste management, increased collection frequency and proper covering of waste storage to eliminate standing water and mosquito habitats.

Training institutes have been asked to nominate staff for participation in surveillance activities. The District Health Office will deliver capacity-building sessions to these nominees to enhance community-based surveillance, rapid reporting and local response capabilities as part of broader Dengue Prevention efforts.

The District Administration has been urged to coordinate with departments such as Auqaf, Local Government and Rural Development, Civil Defence and cooperative housing societies. Housing societies have been advised to conduct regular inspections, manage vacant plots and construction sites, maintain proper waste disposal and issue Dengue Clearance Certificates every 10-15 days to demonstrate compliance.

The Islamabad Health Regulatory Authority has been engaged to ensure private diagnostic centres and laboratories meet clinical management and reporting standards, including functional triage desks, diagnostic accuracy, adherence to government-subsidized testing rates and timely submission of real-time dengue data to prevent under-reporting.

The Health Services Academy will support community engagement by mobilizing students and volunteers for evidence-based awareness campaigns, source reduction demonstrations, data-driven mapping and behaviour change communication. Relevant sectors including Fisheries, Wildlife, Agriculture and Livestock have been advised on sector-specific measures such as hatchery management, improved park sanitation, farmer training on water management and greenhouse practices to limit mosquito breeding in rural and urban settings.

Dr. Syeda Rashida Batool, District Health Officer Islamabad, stressed that effective Dengue Prevention requires collective action and strong institutional coordination. She urged all departments, institutions and citizens to maintain environmental cleanliness, eliminate potential breeding sites and actively support public awareness so timely coordination and community participation can protect the health of Islamabad residents.