Additional Chief Secretary Syed Mubashir Raza ordered that a mechanism be devised to obtain data of those affected by the virus. PHOTO: AFP
Additional Chief Secretary Syed Mubashar Raza on Monday ordered all departments to expedite efforts against dengue fever.
Raza chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Dengue Control at Civil Secretariat. MPAs Pir Ashraf Rasool and Lubna Faisal, the Health Services director general, the commissioners of Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Gujranwala, the DCOs of Lahore and Sheikhupura and the in-charge of the Chief Minister’s Dengue Research Cell attended the meeting.
“Negligence in anti-dengue activities will not be tolerated,” Raza said. He ordered the Higher Education Department to take appropriate steps to prevent the dengue outbreak at educational institutions in Rawalpindi.
Raza ordered that a mechanism be devised to obtain data of those affected by the virus.
Earlier, Dengue Control Additional Director General Islam Zafar briefed the meeting about the dengue situation across the Punjab. He said monsoon rains provided conducive environment for the growth of dengue larvae. He said that during the current year, 12 dengue fever patients had been reported in the Punjab. More than 840 dengue cases have been reported in Sindh and 34 in Balochistan, he said.
Zafar said some motorists threw plastic bottles along the motorway. He warned that these could serve as breeding spots for the larvae.
DCO Muhammad Usman said an anti-dengue campaign was underway in Lahore. Commissioners of Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala briefed the meeting about indoor and outdoor dengue surveillance measures.
They said the authorities had made sure that graveyards, junkyards and tyres shops were clean of the larvae. The Sheikhupura DCO recommended that the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) arrange a refresher course for the dengue staff in the district.
Officers from the PITB and Special Branch presented a report regarding anti-dengue activities of various departments. They also pointed out grey areas.
The additional chief secretary said letters expressing displeasure should be sent to the officers performing poorly in the drive.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2015.
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