Increasing number of dengue cases irks CM

Officials directed to implement anti-dengue monitoring system, issue high-alert


​ Our Correspondent September 06, 2019
PHOTO: REUTERS

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has expressed his strong displeasure over the increasing number of dengue patients in Lahore and Rawalpindi.

In a meeting held at his office on Thursday, the chief minister reprimanded administrative officers for failing to implement instructions issued for eradicating dengue. “Why is the disease not being controlled despite the issuance of SOPs,” he asked.

The meeting decided to make the anti-dengue campaign more effective and decisive. The chief minister directed officials to fully implement the anti-dengue monitoring system and issue a high-alert with regard to dengue in Lahore.

Every year, anti-dengue measures are adopted but why is there negligence on the part of the officials, he questioned. He added that an inquiry would be launched against the officials for their negligence.

The chief minister directed the chief secretary to identify the officials responsible after conducting a proper investigation. “Action will be initiated against them in light of the inquiry report,” he added. It is regrettable that administrative officers did not take the required steps in time to deal with the issue, he said. The ‘all is good’ mantra will not work, said Buzdar. “It is intolerable that officials are sitting in their offices while the people are becoming victim to dengue.”

Capital’s hospitals told to devise dengue management plans

The chief minister directed officials to take steps on an emergent basis to overcome the issue. “We are here to perform and only those who will perform well will stay.”

“There should be no dengue cases and this is my final direction,” Buzdar warned. The health department should develop and maintain a close and continuous liaison with other departments and a zero-tolerance policy should be adopted to control dengue, he said. The chief minister added that the performance of five departments with regard to dengue is completely zero.

The chief minister directed that duties should be performed proactively to control the disease and the anti-dengue plan should be implemented. "There is no room for any leniency with regard to the devised plan", he added.

Buzdar clarified that as far as implementation of the anti-dengue plan is concerned, not even a little leniency will be tolerated. He directed the health department and administrative officers to personally monitor the anti-dengue SOPs. Field teams should be re-activated along with emergency-response committees working at a district level, he said.

Provincial Ministers Dr Yasmin Rashid, Hashim Jawan Bakht, Yasir Humayun, Saeedul Hassan Shah, chief secretary, CMIT chairman, secretaries, Lahore commissioner and other officials attended the meeting while commissioners, DCs and CEOs of DHA attended the meeting through video link.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2019.

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