File photo of Shahbaz Sharif. PHOTO: WASIM NIAZ/FILE
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday said action will be taken against Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif and others responsible if deaths caused by the measles outbreak in the province are not prevented, Express News reported.
The court questioned Director General (DG) Health Punjab Dr Tanvir Ahmed about measures taken to control the damage caused by the outbreak.
The DG Health informed the court that children have been vaccinated and this will help reduce the number of deaths considerably.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the response from DG Health, the court asked Punjab CM and other health department officials to submit their reports over the issue to the court by the next hearing.
According to official reports, more than 1,500 children are suffering from measles. As many as 129 children have died in the province so far.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the number of measles cases in Pakistan increased from 4,000 in 2011 to 14,000 in 2012.
As many as 306 children died of measles in the country last year, most of them in flood-stricken areas.
COMMENTS (16)
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Some thoughts on factors responsible for the current measles epidemic, and suggestions for the government and public with regards to its control are summarized below. http://www.childspecialistpakistan.com/measlesoutbreak201213.htm
@jibran: You obviously have not seen the Rawalpindi Cardiology Institute or the many health centres which have been set up or upgraded by Shahbaz Sharif. No one disputes that the CM's good works in Punjab are more than publicity stunts. If you were sick anywhere in Pakistan, you will want to go for treatment in Punjab. As for contageous diseases, it is pretty childish to blame one minister for outbreaks such as measles. He is working to improve things like he did when he brought Dengue under control. Are the courts going to arrest CM of KPK due to Polio outbreaks there or arrest CM of Sind due to measles outbreaks and malaria there? It's time for people to grow up and just work to improve things like Shahbaz Sharif is doing.
@faysal: sorry to say caretaker gov also can for 3 month but for last 5year who was CM???
Mr. CM, stop being godfather of the province, otherwise take responsibilities of killings by measles. Thank you!
Shahbaz sharif has literally destroyed the health care in punjab. He diverted all funds to cheap publicity stunts. And court is still talking about the future. What about the innocent children whose lives have already been cut short due to the lack of proper vaccination. On whose hands their parents need to the blood stains of these children? The buck has to stop at the top.
@faysal: did you know that Shehbaz Sharief was CM for 5 years before caretaker government and kept the Ministry of Health with him all those years... ?
why unfair?
"According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the number of measles cases in Pakistan increased from 4,000 in 2011 to 14,000 in 2012."
whose government was between 2011 and 2012?
i think courts should be more concentrated what is happening in the courts, every day injustice is the hallmark of our judiciary.
Absurd. The.country has officially moved from rule of law to rule of judge. By the way, any punishment for the good judge If he is able to reduce the pendency in the courts?
Only action court needs to take is to force all politicans in govt to get treatment in govt hospitals...without any vip treatment. Our hospitals will improve overnight.
This with utmost respect, is a very interesting order of the Honourable Court.
yes.. since CM was the health Minister during the last 5 years! a complete failed man reelected by Pakistanis.
an unfair interference by the court. To have a level playing field the CM should be given the right to question the performance of the court.
Vaccines went bad as they were not kept in climate control and the heat got to it. So water vaccine did not work hence Measles went berserk. Now more money to import more vaccine. Means more money, more commission and more .......................
why court didnt order such statement when punjab was being run by caretaker cm nd 100s of children were dying???shehbaz sharif was sworn in just 3 days back n his cabinet was sworn in just yesterday??give him sometime..if he was at the helm of affairs last month,things wouldnt have been so worse..irresponsible decision from court