Lessons for the future: ‘Dengue battle won, but war not over’

CM reiterates will to combat disease at International Dengue Conference.

LAHORE:

While the spread of the dengue virus has been controlled, government officials will not let up in the war against the disease until it is eradicated, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday.

Addressing the inaugural session of the International Dengue Conference at the Aiwan-i-Iqbal, Sharif said, “The virus has been combated by the provincial government with the people’s cooperation.”

He said this was why no deaths were reported due to the dengue virus this year.

Sharif said his happiness after inaugurating the Kalma Chowk flyover on Ferozepur Road in August 2011 was spoiled by the dengue virus outbreak in Punjab.

“We had no knowledge or experience of combating a dengue outbreak but our commitment remained,” he said.

He said the government had been greatly aided by medical experts from Sri Lanka and Thailand. He said the certificates given to those who performed well in the anti-dengue campaign should be considered “more precious than diamonds”.

Sharif said there were 21,000 dengue infections and 252 fatalities in 2011, and just 252 infections and no fatalities this year.

He said the Metro Bus Service would be for the common man. He said the cost of the project was being misreported at over Rs80 billion. “We have estimated that it will cost Rs27 billion,” he said.

He thanked medical experts from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia for working with Pakistani doctors to combat the disease. He thanked all those who took part in the anti-dengue campaign, including the heads of all departments, police, administration, Information Department, Directorate General of Public Relations, political leaders, workers, spraymen, doctors, nurses and paramedical staff.

The chief minister later distributed commendatory certificates among officials for good performance.

Dr Fernando, the head of a team of Sri Lankan experts, said when they arrived last year to impart training as Lahore was in a grip of fear due to the spread of the dengue virus. “This year, we have returned to learn how the people of Punjab controlled dengue in such a short period,” he said.

Dr Tesira from Sri Lanka gave CM Shahbaz Sharif the credit for controlling dengue through his “hands-on leadership.”

Thai expert Dr Suchitra, known as ‘Princess of Dengue,’ praised the courage of Pakistanis in fighting the disease successfully.

Khawaja Salman Rafique, the special assistant to the Chief Minister, said public representatives and government employees had worked day and night to combat the disease. He said the CM had convened meetings for a number of weeks on the dengue control strategy.

Health Secretary Arif Nadeem said doctors served dengue patients with the spirit of service during the dengue outbreak last year. He said the guidance of foreign experts had helped them this year.

Dengue Campaign Chief Mobiliser Begum Shaista Pervaiz Malik said they had been tasked with raising awareness of the dengue virus.

Dr Wasim Akram from Thailand said he hoped the government would maintain its commitment to prevent a dengue outbreak in the future.

Special Branch Additional IG Nasir Khan Durani said the CM neither slept himself nor allowed others to sleep during the campaign.

Commendatory certificates were given by the CM to the son of Environment Secretary Saeed Iqbal Wahla (late), Gujranwala Commissioner Abdul Jabbar Shaheen, Dr Riaz Ahmad, Qari Arif, Executive District Officer (EDO) Muhammad Iqbal, EDO Muhammad Pervaiz, Younas Zahid, Akhlaq Ali Khan, Farah Athar, Ansar Mehmood, Asma Kanwal, Asif Mehmood, Muhammad Iftikhar, Asif Iqbal, Hafiz Abdul Rehman, Muhammad Shakeel, Sohail Butt, Sajjad Dara and Maryam Farooq.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2012.