Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that action plan to implement anti-dengue campaign should be initiated throughout the province while dengue larva eradication campaign has been launched at union council level. Shahbaz was presiding over a high-level meeting to review arrangements for anti-dengue campaign at Model Town on Monday.
Shahbaz said a central control room has been established to collect complete data relevant to dengue. He said all necessary drugs and chemicals have also been made available to ensure eradication of dengue larva. Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Punjab Minister for Education Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, special assistants Khawaja Salman Rafique, Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Khawaja Ahmed Hasaan, members of Punjab Assembly and secretaries of various departments were present on the occasion.
Shahbaz constituted a committee, under the chairmanship of King Edward Medical University vice chancellor, for institutional mechanism of third party monitoring. The other members of the committee include Information Technology University vice chancellor, Health Additional Secretary and Dr Waseem.
Shahbaz said the work of outdoor and indoor vector surveillance should be initiated at union council level and dengue larva should be eradicated by adopting an effective mechanical methodology. He said awareness about dengue virus has been made part of the syllabus, while a compulsory question on dengue has also been included in examinations to create general awareness among the children about dengue virus.
The chief minister directed that special attention should be paid to ensure sanitation arrangements at educational institutions. He said recommendations formulated by Punjab government to run Institute of Public Health on modern lines should be completely implemented. He ordered strict monitoring of graveyards, tyre shops and warehouses, besides ensuring removal of debris from parks and other places. He said that 41 thousand volunteers, recruited last year, should also be mobilized for anti- dengue campaign. He said action plan of anti-dengue campaign should be completely implemented by every department while the divisional commissioners and DCOs of various districts should personally monitor anti-dengue measures.
The chief minister directed Punjab chief secretary to review arrangements for anti-dengue campaign twice a week. He also directed health secretary to ensure prompt payment of salaries to entomologists by evolving an effective course of action in this regard.
