Public health: High Court asks for report on dengue fever prevention

Petitioner alleges that the government was making false claims.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday directed the Health Department to inform the court of practical steps being taken to control a dengue outbreak. The court adjourned the next hearing till May 15.

The petitioner’s counsel, Azhar Siddque, alleged that the government was making false claims. He said it had failed to contain the disease. He said if the government had taken timely action, precious lives could have been saved. He said dengue fever could break out any time, and the government had not taken any precautionary steps. He also alleged that some government officials had been involved in the purchase of substandard medicines to control the spread of the disease. He requested the court to issue directions to the provincial government to hold a transparent inquiry against officials involved in this activity. Appearing on behalf of the government, a law officer said the government had taken several measures to control the outbreak. He said they were using good quality insecticide sprays.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2014.