Anti-dengue training: '110 persons being sent to Thailand, Sri Lanka'

Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif has said that the way elected representatives, officers, departments, doctors, nurses and paramedical staff made tireless efforts against dengue virus and overcame the mortality rate through their commitment and hard work and by the grace of Allah, is a historic achievement.
He said that a strategy has been evolved on permanent basis for curbing dengue virus under which 110 persons associated with different sectors are being sent to Thailand and Sri Lanka for training.
He said that these persons on their return will serve as master trainers to impart training to thousands of others in the eradication and treatment of dengue virus. He said that despite limited resources, arrangements have been made for sending such a large delegation for training, as nothing could be more important than service to ailing humanity and training of these individuals will help in tackling dengue virus more effectively in future.
He was addressing the persons selected from different sectors for training in treatment and eradication of dengue virus at Chief Minister's Secretariat, here Friday, before their departure to Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Thailand and Sri Lanka. The CM said that dengue is a new epidemic for Pakistan and Punjab and there is little knowledge about this menace, however, local experts made commendable efforts with the assistance of Sri Lankan and Indonesian experts in overcoming this disease.
He said that the delegation which is leaving on December 5 comprises policymakers, doctors, nurses, entomologists, religious scholars, elected representatives as well as individuals associated with media and other sectors and upon their return they will serve as master trainers in their respective fields. They will utilise all their abilities in getting rid of dengue virus from the country. He said that the nation has high hopes of them and expects that after acquiring knowledge and technology, they will play their due role in the eradication of this menace. He said dengue is a social issue and in view of this fact, 25 percent women have also been included in the delegation.
While appreciating the efforts of chief secretary, Chairman Planning & Development, secretary health and officers concerned in giving a final shape to the training programme expeditiously, the CM also lauded the co-operation of Thai ambassador in this regard. He stressed upon the members of the delegation to serve as ambassadors of Pakistan in real sense and promote the image of the country through their hard work and discipline and strive hard for acquiring modern knowledge and skill.
He expressed hope that these persons, after receiving training, will play a vanguard role in the campaign against dengue virus next season. Earlier, Chief Secretary, Nasir Mehmood Khosa while addressing the ceremony said that dengue is a new phenomenon in the region as well as the country and the province and there was scant knowledge about this problem. He said that this epidemic has stayed for decades in the countries it had hit. He said that on the instructions of CM Punjab a long-term plan has been evolved for the eradication of dengue and the persons who are leaving for training abroad have been selected purely on the basis of merit and performance. He said that the delegation has been selected from the whole province.
He said that the programme evolved for eradication of dengue in future spans over 36 districts of the province. He said that the head of the mission, Secretary Environment, Saleem Sajjad Hotiyana will be duty bound to send a daily report about the performance of all members of the delegation. He emphasised upon the members of the delegation to represent their country as true Pakistanis during their training period. Director Programme of Punjab Resources Management Programme (PRMP), Abdullah Sumbal gave the outlines of the training programme.
The CM also distributed training material among the participants going for training at the conclusion of the ceremony. Senior Advisor to CM, Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, provincial education minister, Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Advisor Zakiya Shahnawaz, assembly members, additional chief secretary, chairman Planning & Development, principals of medical colleges and senior doctors were also present on the occasion.