Punjab caretaker government has decided to cut the annual anti-dengue budget significantly, calling it a wastage of scarce public resources.
Official sources privy to the matter revealed that the provincial health authorities have unjustifiably expanded the scope of the anti-dengue campaign to all districts of the province, even though no or very few cases have been reported from almost 35 districts in the last seven or so years.
The remaining districts from where dengue larvae and dengue patients have been reported during these years include Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan.
Sources also said every year, 500 to 2,500 dengue sanitary patrol workers were hired in these 33 to 35 districts without justification, and a significant amount of money is spent on their wages, perks, sprays, fuel, laptops, and safety kits. Taking strict notice of this, they said the chief secretary has ordered a comprehensive working plan from the secretaries of Health and Local Government.
Health department sources claimed that under this working strategy, dengue expenditures would be lowered by 80 to 90% in regions where no dengue patients have ever been reported, and more focus will be given to the five districts including Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Multan. Officials said funds that will be saved by eliminating the dengue-free districts will be used as per the requirement in districts with a high number of dengue cases. The remainder of the funds will be returned to the provincial ministry of finance.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2023.
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