Health issues: ‘Govt considering legislation to enforce prevention measures’

Environment secy urges citizens to take violators to task.

FAISALABAD:

The provincial government is considering making laws to enforce preventive measures against dengue fever and other diseases, Environment Secretary Saeed Wahla said on Saturday.

He was speaking to the media after a meeting with the divisional commissioner.

The environment secretary urged the citizens, meanwhile, to use available laws to seek action against those they found involved in activities that aid breeding of dengue mosquitoes.

He said the Local Government Ordinance, the Punjab Epidemic Disease Act, the Punjab Environmental Protection Act and Criminal Procedures Code provided a legal framework for action against such violators.

The secretary said the government had accelerated an awareness raising campaign through door-to-door visits, corner meetings, lectures at schools and colleges and distribution of pamphlets containing guidelines on prevention of dengue fever.

Secretary Wahla also briefed the media about the insecticides, fogging machines, spray machines and other equipment provided to district administrations.

He urged people to avoid keeping old tyres in the open. He said the tyres should be shredded before dumping. He asked the tehsil municipal officials to carry out regular monitoring of areas where old tyre businesses were located.

He said inspections should be undertaken regularly for dengue mosquito larvae at places where there is still water.

Earlier, Commissioner Tahir Hussain expressed satisfaction with the anti-dengue measures in the four districts of Faisalabad division.

Two-day conference on dengue fever from Sept 24

A two-day conference on dengue fever prevention and treatment will begin at the Punjab Medical College on September 24.

The PMC and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) will jointly organise the conference.

This was announced on Friday at a meeting of the PMC’s dengue awareness committee.

Dr Khurram Sohail Raja, a committee member, briefed the participants of the meeting about its ongoing activities.

He said a publicity campaign for the conference would be started soon.

Dr Muhammad Jalal Arif of the UAF said his university was planning to hold another event to educate people about dengue fever prevention. He said people from various backgrounds, in particular youngsters, would be invited to the discussion.

Dr Humaira Arshad of the PMC was asked to approach colleges for women and urge them to hold public awareness seminars at their premises.

The committee also decided to approach industrialists for financial assistance for its activities.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2012.