Punjab chief minister seeks people's cooperation in eliminating dengue virus

Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, has said that every human life is precious to him. Therefore, all out efforts are being made for saving the people from dengue virus. He said that dengue virus would be controlled through collective efforts, co-operation of people and consultation of experts.
He said that the campaign against dengue virus is being run in the form of a movement and civil society, boy and girl students, teachers as well as all segments of the society should join this campaign and play an active role in this regard. Issuing instructions for the purchase of medicines and the machinery required for the elimination of dengue virus on emergent basis, he said that there should not be any delay in this regard.
He directed to set up a 'Helpline' immediately for the benefit of dengue patients and general public and said that the 'Helpline' should operate round-the-clock. The chief minister directed Secretary Health to ensure abundant supply of kits, medicines and other items in hospitals for the treatment of dengue patients and warned that no laxity or negligence will be tolerated in this regard.
He was presiding over the meeting of the special emergency committee set up for controlling dengue virus, here Thursday. Heads of emergency committees of nine towns, Members National and Provincial Assembly, senior doctors, principals of medical colleges, experts and representatives of World Health Organisation were present. The chief minister said that all out resources are being utilised for controlling dengue virus and nine special emergency committees headed by elected representatives have been set up at town level.
He said that these committees have been given complete authority and holding their meetings on daily basis. He said that elected representatives are standing besides the people at this difficult time and co-operation of people is of vital importance for elimination of dengue virus. He said that young generation and students of medical colleges have also been included in the campaign against dengue virus who will pay door-to-door visits to create public awareness regarding dengue virus.
He said that an affective strategy has also been evolved for creating awareness among the people under which experts will deliver lectures in town committees regarding preventive measures against dengue virus while seminars are also being arranged. He said that outdoor wards of hospitals would also remain open round-the-clock for dengue patients.
He said that curbing of viral diseases is the responsibility of Health Department and the department should evolve short and long term planning for this purpose with the consultation of experts. He said that a special committee headed by Chief Secretary has also been constituted which is devising a strategy with the consultation of experts for complete eradication of dengue virus. He directed District Co-ordination Officers to provide hand pumps for spray in all union councils. He said that spray in houses is the responsibility of town committee, which they should fulfil. He said that funds of five crore rupees have been released to City District Government Lahore for the purchase of medicines and machinery.
He said that an inquiry committee is working to check the quality of medicines purchased for controlling dengue virus and reviewing other issues and if any irregularity was detected in the inquiry, the elements playing with the lives of people will not be spared.
Secretary Health and DCO Lahore gave a detailed briefing regarding the situation in the city and the measures taken for controlling dengue virus. Secretary Health informed that separate units have been set up for dengue patients in all hospitals where medicines and kits are available as per requirement. He said that dengue information and control counters have also been set up for the benefit of dengue patients in hospitals. Representative of World Health Organisation Debra Petals informed that the medicine used for spray against dengue virus is approved by WHO. The participants of the meeting also gave their proposals regarding spray for controlling dengue virus.