The Punjab government on Friday lifted the restriction of uniform for students for a month in educational institutions of the city and other areas affected by dengue but it will be mandatory for students to wear full-sleeve shirts and socks to protect themselves from mosquitoes. It was decided in a meeting of the emergency dengue committee, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to review the ongoing campaign against dengue. The CM said that a comprehensive strategy was being implemented to control dengue while a vigorous campaign was also in progress to promote public awareness in this regard. He said that cooperation of the people was of vital importance to exterminate dengue. Shahbaz said that besides capacity building of hospitals, additional staff and machinery had also been provided while paramedical staff and nurses were being recruited on an emergent basis. He said that free blood tests and treatment facilities were being extended to dengue patients in government hospitals while the maximum fees for dengue test in private laboratories had been fixed at Rs 90. Shahbaz directed the Punjab agriculture secretary to evolve an effective mechanism to ascertain how many deaths had occurred in hospitals due to dengue and how many by other diseases.
