Turkish health official to help fight Congo virus

CM annoyed over unsatisfactory responses from IPH, Health Services DG over lack of upgrades at diagnostic lab

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday presided over a meeting where Turkish Ministry of Health’s General Director Oner Guner gave a briefing on preventive measures against Congo virus. The Turkish official also discussed case management, capacity building of medical staff and the role of Institute of Public Health in preventing a Congo fever outbreak.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that the healthcare system in Turkey was very efficient and well organised. He said the provincial government would benefit from Turkish experience to take preventive measures against Congo virus and to reform the healthcare system in the province. He said immediate measures would be taken on the Turkish model for the purpose.

Sharif said training of medical staff was needed for implementation of the case management system. Laboratory would be upgraded and modernised for the purpose, he said.

The chief minister directed the officials concerned at the Livestock Department to ensure effective surveillance of cattle markets ahead of Eidul Azha. He said those not paying attention to their responsibilities in this regard would not be allowed to stay on their posts.

He said the failure of departments concerned to adopt preventive measures against Congo virus and devise an effective case management system was lamentable. He expressed indignation over unsatisfactory responses in this regard from the IPH dean and the Health Services Directorate General (DG). “It is unfortunate that both institutions are evading responsibility for the lack of upgrades at the diagnostic lab,” he said. “Three precious lives have been lost due to Congo virus. The authorities concerned have not been able to fix responsibility for that,” he added.

Sharif said had the officials concerned performed their duties responsibly the laboratory would have been upgraded and no lives lost. He said this state of affairs would not be tolerated. Every institution will have to deliver results, he added. Sharif directed the health authorities concerned to take full advantage of Turkish expertise in the field. He urged the Turkish expert to also assist the department in improving hygiene at public hospitals.

Turkish Health Ministry DG Oner Guner said he had come to Pakistan on special instructions. “I will work closely with the provincial government to prevent spread of Congo virus,” he said.

Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique, Parliamentary Health Secretary Khawaja Imran Nazir, Khawaja Ahmed Hassaan, the chief secretary, the additional chief secretary, the Chief Minister’s Inspection Team chairman and secretaries of the Livestock, Specialised Health and Medical Education, Primary and Secondary Health Departments and the King Edward Medical University Vice Chancellor were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2016.