Punjab to launch anti-dengue drive

Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz has announced a vigorous anti-dengue campaign and tests for the disease across the province for Rs90.

While presiding over a meeting on Thursday, he asked the health department to ensure that the tests were conducted at the fixed rate.

He said the line departments should remain vigilant and anti-dengue committees should be reactivated at the union council, tehsil, district and division levels. Meetings of these committees should be held at the earliest while ensuring strict implementation of the precautionary standard operating procedures (SOPs), he said and reiterated that a zero-tolerance policy would be followed in this regard.

No negligence would be tolerated and all departments would have to show results before the monsoon season, he added.

Read Experts urge measures against dengue

The CM called for devising an effective surveillance system and timely arrangements of quality spray and pesticides.

The departments concerned should ensure implementation of the plan and their performance would be monitored on a daily basis, he said.

MPAs Khwaja Salman Rafiq and Imran Nazir, the provincial health secretary and other officials attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, it was announced on Thursday that the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) would devise a telephonic system to liaise with farmers at the tail of water courses.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2022.