KARACHI:
As Karachi grapples with yet another post-monsoon dengue outbreak, government inaction and bureaucratic inefficiency have once again exposed the city’s fragile public health system. Despite the rising number of dengue and malaria cases, the anti-mosquito spraying campaign across the metropolis remains largely inactive with only a handful of contractual employees left to carry out the work.
Health officials confirm that only 18 workers have been assigned to conduct germicidal spraying across Karachi’s seven districts a city of more than 20 million people. Many of these workers say they have not received their salaries for eight months and have been working without permanent status for nearly eight years.
Spraying Efforts Grounded to a Halt
For several years, no major fumigation drive has been conducted in Karachi. Medical experts have repeatedly warned that such negligence following rainfall provides ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, leading to the spread of dengue, malaria, and other diseases like diarrhea.
Each year, the city’s dengue season begins shortly after the monsoon, when the eggs of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carriers of the dengue virus hatch and multiply rapidly. From September to December, the virus typically peaks, putting immense strain on both public and private hospitals.
Officials familiar with the situation say the problem worsened after the Vector-Borne Disease Department’s head office was moved from Karachi to Hyderabad, which disrupted coordination and oversight. Since then, fumigation activities have been reduced to a token effort.
Shortage of Staff, Shortage of Will
Out of more than 100 sanctioned posts under the Vector-Borne Disease program, most remain vacant. The few remaining employees are spread thin with only two to three spraying staff per district. They also claim they are not under the administrative control of District Health Officers (DHOs), creating further confusion about responsibility.
Speaking anonymously, several spraying workers alleged that while the citywide campaign has been suspended for years, politically connected officials continue to have fumigation carried out around their personal residences.
“These officials have been taking salaries for work that doesn’t exist,” one worker told The Express Tribune, adding that the program’s staff receive their wages only once a year despite serving for nearly a decade.
Millions Allocated — But Where’s the Action?
Budget documents reveal that for the fiscal year 2024–25, the provincial government allocated Rs67.349 million for the dengue control program including Rs16.66 million for spraying operations and Rs14.5 million specifically for chemicals.
Despite these allocations, no citywide fumigation drive has yet been launched this year.
Each district reportedly receives Rs1.2 million annually for anti-mosquito operations, but it remains unclear how those funds are utilized.
When contacted, Vector-Borne Disease Dengue Control Program Director Dr. Mushtaq Shah claimed that his department provides “technical support” to local health offices and that “spraying has already begun in several areas.”
However, DHOs in Karachi refute that assertion, saying they lack sufficient staff and administrative authority to carry out the work effectively.
Hospitals Overwhelmed as Cases Rise
As usual, the city’s public hospitals are unprepared to handle the growing number of dengue and malaria patients. Most affected individuals experience dangerously low platelet counts and are forced to seek treatment at private hospitals due to the government’s failure to provide platelets.
In private blood banks, a mega unit of platelets now costs between Rs30,000 and Rs40,000, while a single unit sells for Rs3,000 to Rs5,000 putting lifesaving treatment out of reach for many low-income families.
Provincial health officials insist that dengue wards are being activated “gradually,” but the ground reality paints a different picture.
Five-Year Dengue Data
According to data from the Vector-Borne Disease Department:
- 2020: 4,318 cases, 3 deaths
- 2021: 6,739 cases, 28 deaths
- 2022: 22,274 cases, 64 deaths (no fumigation campaign)
- 2023: 2,800 cases, no deaths
- 2024: 892 cases, 1 death (Karachi Central)
- 2025 (so far): 557 cases, 1 death
Across Sindh, officials have confirmed over 162,000 dengue cases since 2020, along with three cases of cerebral malaria.
A Crisis of Neglect
Health experts warn that Karachi’s dengue problem is not due to lack of resources, but lack of will. “Every year, we see the same pattern heavy rain, mosquito breeding, and administrative silence,” said one senior physician at a government hospital.
As the city continues to battle yet another preventable outbreak, questions remain: with funds allocated, staff available, and warnings issued why is Karachi still left at the mercy of mosquitoes?
