Following the dengue virus outbreak, the Punjab government has provided Rs250 million as a supplementary grant to the Lahore district government while leaving other districts to cope with the epidemic on their own, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Of the released funds, Rs200 million has been provided for purchasing medicines, equipment and per diem (an allowance or payment made for each day) to the visiting Sri Lankan medical team of dengue experts. The remaining Rs50 million was provided to launch public awareness campaigns to adopt precautionary measures in the city. These funds are in addition to the routine health budget of the city district government.
“Interestingly, the Punjab chief minister has claimed that the Sri Lankan experts came to Pakistan on ‘humanitarian grounds’ on his special request and on the other hand, the Punjab government is paying them for their services,” said an official, requesting anonymity. He added that many other district governments which have also been hit by dengue did not seek any financial help to combat the virus.
Dengue has become an epidemic in Punjab, with over 7,000 cases reported in public sector hospitals so far. Out of these, over 6,000 have been reported in Lahore alone, where over 70 people have died.
The health wing of city district government in Lahore had already purchased anti-mosquito spray from its budget but it had become ineffective and the number of cases is increasing at an alarming rate.
Faced with financial constraints, the city district government requested the Punjab government to procure anti-mosquito medicine and machines to fumigate areas where dengue cases have been reported. The chief minister also directed authorities to import the required medicines.
The city district government requested Rs200 million as a supplementary grant to procure medicine that will be sprayed in the city. The city district government health wing will make a single-source purchase with this amount, said an official. The finance department placed another Rs50 million at the city government’s disposal on September 7 to counter the spread of the virus.
The city government further requested another Rs150 million which was provided to them on September 17. These funds will be used for purchasing medicines, diesel, handpumps, fumigation machines, uniforms and protective equipment for sprays.
In an attempt to spread public awareness about the virus, the district government is using signboards, advertising in newspapers, conducting seminars and distributing pamphlets.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th, 2011.
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