Via The News International: Arrangements made to combat dengue threat: Shahbaz Sharif. Excerpt:
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif Wednesday said that foolproof arrangements had been made to combat potential threat of dengue.
In this regard, he said, measures have been taken to ensure availability of trained staff, necessary medical equipments and WHO-approved medicines, whereas high dependency units in hospitals have been fully activated. In order to control dengue, cooperation at the societal level is also very important, he added.
The chief minister was presiding over a meeting at his tent office, Minar-e-Pakistan. The meeting held to review arrangements to combat potential dengue virus, was attended by Special Assistant Khawaja Salman Rafique, Members National and Provincial Assembly, the secretaries of different departments, the commissioner and the district coordination officer (DCO) of Lahore, Dr. Faisal Masood, principals of teaching hospitals, experts, and senior officers.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister issued directions to distribute pamphlets, containing information about preventive measures against dengue, in all mosques and Imam Bargahs in the province on Friday. He also urged Khateebs to highlight the importance of cleanliness and sanitation in their sermons.
He said that dengue prevention had been made a part of the curriculum. After the summer vacation, he said, weekly tests conducted at schools, colleges and universities ought to contain questions regarding prevention against dengue.
Last year, the CM said, Punjab had to face a serious situation as requisite information about dengue was not available. However, he pointed out, an effective strategy was adopted to control dengue this time.
