Shahbaz urges dengue philanthropy
Chief minister directs authorities to accelerate campaign.
LAHORE:
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday his government had asked philanthropists and welfare institutions to support the government in its efforts to eradicate the dengue virus.
The chief minister was presiding over a meeting of the Core Group and Special Emergency Committee set up for dengue eradication. The meeting was attended by the Sri Lankan experts, members of the National and Provincial Assemblies, secretaries to government and some doctors.
Sharif said that the government was planning to set up more than 1,000 dispensaries in the city and philanthropists and welfare institutions had been asked to take over these dispensaries and convert them into free treatment centres. He said 11 filter clinics had been started in the city to provide diagnostic facilities to patients, he said.
The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to accelerate the ongoing campaign against dengue virus. He said that an extensive media campaign should be launched to ensure participation of all segments of society in the movement against the virus. He said there should be a door-to-door awareness campaign regarding preventive measures to be taken against the disease.
Shahbaz Sharif informed the meeting that all available resources were being utilised for the elimination of dengue virus and a comprehensive policy was being implemented in consultation with the experts.
He ordered the Health Department to recruit 1,000 nurses to meet the shortage of paramedic staff. He said that private hospitals that were not providing free treatment as they had agreed to and laboratories that were overcharging deserved ‘no leniency.’ He said that calamities should be not taken as an opportunity for profiteering.
“Private hospitals and laboratories have a responsibility to supplement the efforts of the government.” He set up more committees and instructed them to speed up the campaign against dengue virus.
Dr Hasitha Tissera, the head of the Sri Lankan experts team, briefed the meeting about the dengue virus and the team’s findings so far.
He appreciated the steps taken by the government and the hospitals in this regard and said that the chief minister was “moving in the right direction to eliminate the virus.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2011.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday his government had asked philanthropists and welfare institutions to support the government in its efforts to eradicate the dengue virus.
The chief minister was presiding over a meeting of the Core Group and Special Emergency Committee set up for dengue eradication. The meeting was attended by the Sri Lankan experts, members of the National and Provincial Assemblies, secretaries to government and some doctors.
Sharif said that the government was planning to set up more than 1,000 dispensaries in the city and philanthropists and welfare institutions had been asked to take over these dispensaries and convert them into free treatment centres. He said 11 filter clinics had been started in the city to provide diagnostic facilities to patients, he said.
The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to accelerate the ongoing campaign against dengue virus. He said that an extensive media campaign should be launched to ensure participation of all segments of society in the movement against the virus. He said there should be a door-to-door awareness campaign regarding preventive measures to be taken against the disease.
Shahbaz Sharif informed the meeting that all available resources were being utilised for the elimination of dengue virus and a comprehensive policy was being implemented in consultation with the experts.
He ordered the Health Department to recruit 1,000 nurses to meet the shortage of paramedic staff. He said that private hospitals that were not providing free treatment as they had agreed to and laboratories that were overcharging deserved ‘no leniency.’ He said that calamities should be not taken as an opportunity for profiteering.
“Private hospitals and laboratories have a responsibility to supplement the efforts of the government.” He set up more committees and instructed them to speed up the campaign against dengue virus.
Dr Hasitha Tissera, the head of the Sri Lankan experts team, briefed the meeting about the dengue virus and the team’s findings so far.
He appreciated the steps taken by the government and the hospitals in this regard and said that the chief minister was “moving in the right direction to eliminate the virus.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2011.