Punjab halts funding for dengue devices

Asks DHAs to buy mobile phone sets, SIMs & internet from district funds

ISLAMABAD:

The Punjab government has banned dengue patrol workers from purchasing mobile Android phone sets, SIMs and internet from the provincial fund, issuing orders to all district health authorities including the Rawalpindi District Health Authority (DHA) to purchase these phones from their district fund.

In this regard, the release of the provincial funds and grants has been stopped. A circular issued by the Ministry of Health to the district health authorities and Health Officers states that the needs of all dengue patrol workers will be met from the district health fund in the future

District Health Authority (DHA) officers are already facing a severe economic and financial crisis nowadays.

The government has also approved checking the personal data of all dengue patrol male and female workers on the continuous complaints of ghost dengue workers and to check the data documents of each worker by summoning them.

Strict legal action will be taken if ghost workers are found and action will also be taken against those responsible.

A forensic audit will be conducted according to the salary lists issued by DHA. A six-member committee has been established for this audit and data attendance checking.

In Rawalpindi district, District Coordinator Health Department Sajjad Ahmed will head the committee which will comprise area entomologists, area officers and computer Data Operators. A notification has also been issued in this regard.

Meanwhile, inspection, documents, recruitment letter and joining report of all dengue workers of Rawal Town were examined on Thursday and the documents of Cantt area workers were checked on Friday.