Terming dengue the “most difficult problem” faced by the government, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif appealed to professors, consultants and senior doctors to revive the tradition of examining patients in hospitals in the evenings, in order to provide exceptional medical care to patients suffering from advanced cases of dengue.
Sharif said a committee for the provision of financial assistance to the heirs of those who died from dengue had been set up, which would collect the deceased’s data within 72 hours, and in its light, begin distribution of financial assistance worth Rs five lakh to the heirs of each deceased.
In a meeting of the special committee for dengue, the CM said the Institute of Public Health had an important role to play in training doctors and nurses, therefore, solid steps were being taken to activate and mobilise this department. Similarly, dengue-specific training for doctors at private and charity hospitals had been made compulsory and a programme had been evolved for the purpose.
He said the heads of government hospitals should be informed about those showing exemplary performance in providing treatment to dengue patients. Terming the performance of entomologists during the dengue campaign as excellent, the CM said a qualified panel should be selected for future entomologist recruitment. He added that besides tyre shops, steps should also be taken to eradicate the virus from scrap-houses.
He directed the chief secretary to evolve such a plan regarding tyres as would eliminate the virus, while ensuring that the business continued, and no one was rendered jobless. He said the youth’s role in the dengue awareness campaign was of great importance, adding that students would have to play a leading role and create awareness among their family members and neighbours about it.
He directed that a plan be evolved which would include the maximum number of male and female students in the awareness campaign. Moreover, speaking at the Post Graduate Medical Institute, Sharif said professors and consultants used to visit hospitals in the evening during the 60s and 70s, and the masses had not forgotten this excellent tradition.
He added that although the dengue epidemic had wreaked havoc, it had also provided an opportunity to evaluate the performance of various departments. The CM distributed gold medals among those doctors who had performed outstandingly in various disciplines.
