The Punjab government has no Dengue Complaint Cell equipped with a toll free number so far for the facilitation of complaints against various public and private bodies and institutions, Pakistan Today has learnt. The absence of a Dengue Complaint Cell in the ‘anti-dengue action plan’ geared up over the last two weeks by Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif was a big shock to the panic-stricken people who have no respite from the dengue destruction till date. Instead of establishing the cell and a complaint toll free number, the government has just launched the toll free helpline number 080099000 to disseminate the basic knowledge about dengue, its fever, preventive measures testing facilities and medical attention in order to combat the menace.
People have lot of complaints regarding proper fumigation, water stagnation and sanitation. They also want to furnish their complaints against the private hospitals and labs charging more than Rs 90 as test fees for dengue detection set by the CM on Saturday. However, the facility to do so is not available at the provincial level. Neither the Health Department nor the City District Government Lahore has provided people with the diagnostic facility which is supposedly the major component of the mega relief plan.
Though, every town has its own complaint cell headed by Health Deputy District Officer (DDO) but they are unresponsive for the most part. Majority of people are unaware of their existence as the government took no measures to publicize them.
Nauman, a resident of Township, told Pakistan Today that he wanted to complain against the private hospital when it demanded more test fee but he got taken aback when it was revealed that there was no complaint cell established by the Punjab government to get the complaint registered.
“I called the toll free helpline and tried to file a complaint but the request could not be entertained as I was informed that the toll free helpline number worked to apprise people about dengue and lacks any mechanism to register the complaint and pass it on to the authorities concerned,” he said.
The chairman for the Emergency Response Committee against dengue at Shahlimar Town, Malik Pervaiz said that there was a complaint cell and toll free number at the provincial level. He referred to the toll free helpline number announced by the CM for the submission of complaints. However, when Malik Pervaiz was informed that attendants at toll free helpline number were not ready to entertain the complaints, he that such setup was working on town and the UC level where public complaints were addressed effectively.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Finance Secretary and the chairman of Emergency Response Committee against at Gulberg Town Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that toll free helpline number was a network facilitating people in filing their complaints. “Attendants at helpline will guide you about your town and UC, they will also let you know about contact numbers of TMOs concerned to file your complaints,” he added. He further said that all the reports poured into emergency response committees to review the daily performance. A senior official of CDGL told Pakistan Today that the Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif was making colossal decisions in haste and the absence of a complaint cell was the result this.
Since the start and till date, all the steps taken in controlling dengue were without taking on board all the stakeholders and experts concerned. Instead of consulting the people concerned, whatever came to the CM’s mind was made strategy, he added.
DCO Ahad Cheema, DO (Public Health) Dr Tariq Ramazan, Shalimar Town TMO Hariz Jalil, DDO (health) Allama Iqbal Town Dr Afzal were not available to comment on the issue.
Dengue Complaint Cell – a myth?
