Sindh Government Establishes 239 Dengue Wards with 1,289 Beds and Provides Free Testing at 117 Government Labs Across Sindh.
Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Haider Shah chaired an emergency meeting at his office to review the current dengue situation across Sindh and to direct concerned departments to take immediate preventive and control measures against the rising number of cases in the province. The meeting was attended by Commissioner Karachi, Secretary Local Government, Director General Health Services, all Divisional Commissioners, and senior health officials.
According to the briefing presented by the Directorate General Health Services Sindh, a total of 982 dengue cases have been reported across Sindh from January to October 2025. Out of these, 641 cases were reported in Karachi, 178 in Hyderabad, while other divisions recorded fewer numbers. Two deaths — one in Karachi East and one in Hyderabad — were confirmed during this period. To facilitate dengue patients, 239 hospitals across the province have established dedicated dengue wards with 1,289 beds allocated for treatment. Moreover, 117 government laboratories are conducting free dengue diagnostic tests, while 23,000 dengue testing kits have been distributed to hospitals.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary emphasized that all possible measures must be taken to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, particularly in areas where stagnant water accumulates. He directed the Deputy Commissioners to coordinate with the Health Department and the Dengue Control Programme to ensure immediate fumigation and larval eradication activities at nurseries, tire shops, construction sites, and other water collection points. He instructed that scientific methods of spraying and fumigation be adopted to ensure long-term effectiveness. The Chief Secretary also ordered that fumigation plans at the Union Council level be developed and implemented without delay. To enhance public awareness, the Chief Secretary directed that a province-wide media campaign be launched to inform citizens about dengue prevention, early symptoms, and control measures. He further advised the Education Department to ensure that students are educated about dengue prevention during morning assemblies. The Chief Secretary also instructed all Deputy Commissioners to visit dengue wards in their respective districts and review the availability of medical facilities and staff. He emphasized that no negligence would be tolerated in the implementation of dengue prevention measures.
He announced that a dedicated control room for dengue monitoring and response will be activated immediately to coordinate efforts across all districts. Public hospitals have been instructed to continue free dengue testing and treatment, while private healthcare facilities have been urged to reduce testing costs to ensure wider access. The Chief Secretary appealed to the public to keep their surroundings clean, avoid stagnant water accumulation, and report dengue symptoms immediately to nearby health facilities or through the Health Department’s Helpline (022-9240114).