Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday issued instructions for setting up separate units for dengue patients in all hospitals of the province and posting of maximum number of doctors and paramedical staff in these units so that dengue patients should not face any difficulty.
He was chairing a meeting of the special emergency committee set up against dengue. The CM directed officers to set up a hotline for the benefit of dengue patients and common citizens besides establishing a special dengue control room where citizens could register their complaints and seek information. Shahbaz said that the situation created by dengue will have to be dealt on an emergency basis, therefore, no effort should be spared in this regard. He said that steps were being taken on a war footing to control dengue and a comprehensive strategy has been evolved in this regard. Shahbaz said that not only a special emergency committee has been formed under his chair to review the measures taken against dengue on a daily basis but similar committees have also been established in nine towns of Lahore which were meeting daily at 7am to monitor the steps taken against dengue.
He said that although spray has been conducted in 90 percent areas of Lahore but some public complaints have been received during open courts regarding the quality of the spray. The CM directed Punjab Health Secretary Jahanzeb Khan to immediately consult experts for checking the quality of the spray. Shahbaz directed officers that the complete record of dengue patients be maintained in all hospitals so that an effective strategy could be evolved for controlling this virus in the future. He directed officers that a complete report be submitted to him within 24 hours regarding establishment of special dengue units in all hospitals. Shahbaz said that rich people could afford treatment in private hospitals but the common man could not pay the expenses of these hospitals, therefore, it should be ensured that dengue patients should not face any problem in receiving treatment in government hospitals.
The CM said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) should also be consulted in this regard. He also sought a report regarding spray in educational institutions. Shahbaz directed officers that participation of civil society, people of all walks of life and students of medical colleges and all dispensaries of Lahore be ensured in the campaign for promoting public awareness regarding preventive measures against dengue. The CM directed the health secretary to visit Faisalabad and present a report about the measures taken against dengue. He issued instructions to the Special Branch additional IG to present a comprehensive report on a regular basis in meetings of the special emergency committee regarding the steps taken for curbing dengue in the province. Shahbaz warned that no laxity or negligence will be tolerated in coping with the challenge of dengue. Earlier, the health secretary and Lahore District Coordination Officer (DCO) Ahad Cheema informed the meeting about the measures taken against dengue.
