Curbing dengue: AIG summoned over substandard spray report
Federal and provincial govts, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council also issued notices on another petition.
LAHORE:
Lahore High Court Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry on Friday sought personal appearance of Additional Inspector General Aftab Sultan on October 7 after district coordination officer (DCO) Ahad Cheema told the court that the anti-dengue spray in Lahore last year had been substandard.
DCO Cheema alleged that Dr Fayyaz Ranjha, the former executive district officer (EDO) for health was responsible for the sub-standard spray. Cheema said now it could take several years to eliminate the dengue epidemic.
Justice Chaudhry was holding an inquiry to fix responsibility for delay in measures taken by the government to control dengue mosquito and to judge the quality of insecticides used for the spray last year.
The court also issued notices to the federal and provincial governments and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council on another petition seeking registration of murder cases against the officials concerned for deaths from dengue fever.
The chief justice told the petitioner that murder cases could not be registered in such cases, however, cases of criminal negligence would be registered against those proven guilty.
The CJ directed the government to launch an awareness campaign through media.
He remarked that doctors and other health officials should get all the support to deliver the services in such crisis. Otherwise, he said, the situation could get out of control.
The CJ is hearing two petitions, one against the government for not taking timely measures to control dengue fever filed by Advocate Noshab A Khan, and the other for the registration of murder cases against relevant officers, filed by Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique.
Advocate Khan has also requested the court to order the health secretary to provide free treatment to dengue patients and take action against officials showing negligence in this regard.
He has alleged that the insecticide used by the City District Government of Lahore in the fumigation campaign is ineffective. He said the campaign was useless until a good quality insecticide was used. He also asked the court to summon the respondents and explain their negligence.
The judge adjourned further hearing till October 7.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th, 2011.
Lahore High Court Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry on Friday sought personal appearance of Additional Inspector General Aftab Sultan on October 7 after district coordination officer (DCO) Ahad Cheema told the court that the anti-dengue spray in Lahore last year had been substandard.
DCO Cheema alleged that Dr Fayyaz Ranjha, the former executive district officer (EDO) for health was responsible for the sub-standard spray. Cheema said now it could take several years to eliminate the dengue epidemic.
Justice Chaudhry was holding an inquiry to fix responsibility for delay in measures taken by the government to control dengue mosquito and to judge the quality of insecticides used for the spray last year.
The court also issued notices to the federal and provincial governments and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council on another petition seeking registration of murder cases against the officials concerned for deaths from dengue fever.
The chief justice told the petitioner that murder cases could not be registered in such cases, however, cases of criminal negligence would be registered against those proven guilty.
The CJ directed the government to launch an awareness campaign through media.
He remarked that doctors and other health officials should get all the support to deliver the services in such crisis. Otherwise, he said, the situation could get out of control.
The CJ is hearing two petitions, one against the government for not taking timely measures to control dengue fever filed by Advocate Noshab A Khan, and the other for the registration of murder cases against relevant officers, filed by Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique.
Advocate Khan has also requested the court to order the health secretary to provide free treatment to dengue patients and take action against officials showing negligence in this regard.
He has alleged that the insecticide used by the City District Government of Lahore in the fumigation campaign is ineffective. He said the campaign was useless until a good quality insecticide was used. He also asked the court to summon the respondents and explain their negligence.
The judge adjourned further hearing till October 7.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th, 2011.