CM presides over meeting regarding dengue

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that all out resources are being utilized for dealing with dengue problem and the concerned departments are fully mobilized. He said that due to collective efforts of the government, elected representatives, government departments and the masses, the situation has considerably improved.

The Chief Minister said that had the anti-dengue plan evolved during previous years be fully implemented, dengue would not have been surfaced. He said that dengue mosquito had been eliminated from the province in 2011 and it will again be defeated. He said that elected representatives should personally distribute pamphlets promoting awareness about preventive measures against dengue mosquito among the people and besides their own constituencies, also visit other areas to review the steps taken for curbing this menace.

He was presiding over a high level meeting to review dengue situation and the measures taken for eradication of this menace, here today. Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah Khan, Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Bilal Yasin, Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman, Members National and Provincial Assemblies Chief Secretary, Secretaries of concerned departments, experts, heads of development agencies and officials of concerned departments were present.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister directed that anti-dengue regulations be fully implemented and stern action be taken against hotels, marriage halls and other institutions failing to comply these laws. He said that cleanliness of bus stands, graveyards and other public places be ensured. Shahbaz Sharif said that full attention be paid to indoor and outdoor surveillance for the eradication of dengue mosquito and its larva. He said that immediate distribution of anti dengue kits among citizens be ensured. He said that assembly members should visit hospitals and their own constituencies as well as in other areas and review the medical facilities being provided to dengue patients and submit him a report inthis regard.

The Chief Minister directed that besides metro and LTC buses spray should also be conducted in private buses and it should be made binding upon private transporters. He said that effective coordination with general practitioners is utmost important and the data of dengue patients visiting general practitioners be obtained and serious patients be immediately shifted to government hospitals. He also directed immediate spray at the places of majalis and imam bargahs. Shahbaz Sharif directed that legal action should be taken against the concerned persons on detection of dengue larva from the under construction building at Gaddafi Stadium.

The Chief Minister stressed the need for reactivating of volunteer force for anti dengue and the model of Shalamar Town should be replicated in this regard. He said that complete awareness is being provided to the people regarding dengue through helpline 0800-99000 and the citizens can get guidance through this helpline.

Shahbaz Sharif while appreciating the steps taken by Shalamar Town against dengue said that other towns should also follow it and make strenuous efforts for overcoming dengue virus. He directed that the campaign against elimination of dengue should be continued vigorously and elected representatives, concerned departments and experts should work in coordinated manner with a national spirit.

Earlier, Secretaries of various departments and Commissioner Lahore Division gave detailed briefings regarding steps taken for eradication of dengue.