PTI-led govt willing to put aside differences to save lives. PHOTO: FILE
“There is no harm if someone assists us in saving lives,” head of the public health section at the health department Dr Shaheen Afridi told The Express Tribune.
She said that Punjab government has experience in dealing with dengue outbreak and the K-P government will not hesitate to take benefits of their expertise. “We will see what different the Punjab government has done in dealing with the dengue apart from the usual measures,” she said.
Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif had offered Punjab government’s assistance to counter dengue outbreak.
The mosquito borne virus, according to independent sources, has so far claimed over 10 lives and infected over 831 in the provincial capital.
Health officials blame the district government responsible for failing since it failed to release required funds.
K-P government devolved powers of the health ministry to district health departments as previously, K-P government would issue funds directly to facilities but with powers devolved, funds are now sent directly to districts governments to release funds to district health offices.
On the other hand, the district health officers say the devolution has in fact added to the problems since the funds being released are too short to meet required needs.
“Now since the department falls within jurisdiction of the district governments, the funds were reduced and diverted towards other projects,” a senior health official claimed adding ‘there is a huge cut on district health office’s funds and this is the main reason why the district health system has completely collapsed.’
The official, who requested anonymity since he was not authorized to talk to media, stated that although it wasn’t only district health office’s job to take measures and control dengue since other department including local government was also a stake holder but ‘why didn’t it happen in the past.’
“Earlier, the same health department would take precautionary measures and there would be case but in hilly areas only and this time, it has reached to the provincial capital,” the official informed adding ‘it [dengue virus] has disclosed the district government’s inefficiency.’
Despite the fact that dengue virus has claimed 10 lives, the district government is yet to release funds for the district health office as according to officials, only grant of Rs6 million has been released and that too with Rs5 million on Friday.
“They district nazim has released only Rs6 million soon after Dengue virus claimed several lives,” the official.
Dengue virus is reported from three union councils including UC 38, 39 and 40 however some cases have surfaced in Pishtakhara area of the provincial capital as well. District Nazim Muhammad Asim could not be reached despite several attempts for an official version.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2017.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ