Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday announced that workers from all Health Department will perform their duties during Eid holidays and elected representatives will monitor anti-dengue arrangements personally.
Presiding over a meeting of the Cabinet Committee for Eradication of Dengue, Shahbaz said that the protection of citizens against dengue is of utmost importance to him. Shahbaz said that arrangements for coping with a possible outbreak of dengue have been given a final shape in the provincial metropolis during Eid holidays. He added that Emergency Response Committees have been fully activated in nine towns.
Shahbaz directed the attendance of the staff working under Emergency Response Committees to be ensured at all cost and strict action should be taken against those who remain absent. He said that effective eradication of dengue mosquitoes is possible through the elimination of its larvae; wherever dengue larvae are found the place must be protected by adopting counter measures. The chief minister ordered an immediate suspension of TMO Gulberg Town and other staff responsible for showing negligence in checking plazas under construction.
He urged that cleanliness arrangements be ensured in private schools and those that failed to take anti-dengue steps should be sealed. Furthermore, Shabaz said that there is a threat of dengue larvae at industrial units. He directed Secretary Industries to ensure anti-dengue arrangements in the factories throughout the province, including Lahore.
He said that cooperation of the people for overcoming dengue is of utmost importance, therefore an awareness campaign among the citizens should be launched in this regard.
Morever, Shahbaz said that publicity campaign for eradication of dengue through billboards, banners and flexes on prominent places be launched. The chief minister said that keeping in view of the report of the presence of larvae at Railway Colony Lahore, special attention should be paid to the elimination of larvae there.
While issuing orders for immediately drying up of water at all decorative fountains, the Shahbaz said that swimming pools should be made dengue-free through use of chemicals. He said that the fish should be released for elimination of dengue larvae where rainwater is standing in large quantity. He said that warehouses would be constructed for storing anti-dengue equipments in big cities within two months.
