Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that we are in state of war against dengue and there is no room for laxity in coping with this deadly virus. He said that due to recent rains, there was a great need to play a vigorous role in the fight against dengue. He said that like September 2, anti-dengue day would again be observed on September 23 with zeal and determination.
He said that spray and fogging should be continued at sensitive places while the process of checking and eradication of dengue larvae at junkyards, graveyards, factories, workshops, tyre-shops and nurseries should be expedited. Taking notice of non-payment of salaries to some members of the staff engaged in anti-dengue campaign, the Chief Minister ordered immediate payment of salaries.
The Chief Minister was presiding over a meeting of provincial anti-dengue committee, here on Tuesday. Minister for Education Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Khawaja Salman Rafique, Assembly Members, concerned secretaries, Commissioner Lahore, District Co-ordination Officer Lahore, heads of development agencies, medical experts and concerned officers were present. Addressing the meeting, the CM said the desired results of anti-dengue measures could be achieved through promoting co-ordination between the departments and the authorities concerned. He directed that civil society, boy and girl students, Ulema, government and other segments of society to display the same spirit and enthusiasm on September 23 as was shown on anti-dengue day on September 2.
He said that anti-dengue campaign was in full swing due to vigorous co-operation of the people and dengue losses this season were much lower than the last year. He said there was a need for vigorous indoor and outdoor surveillance, and directed that measures should be taken for further improvement of the arrangements for cleanliness at public and private sector educational institutions.
The CM ordered checking of anti-dengue arrangements at 200 government and private schools in the metropolis and submitting a report next week as well as improvement of the efficiency of the Emergency Response Committees. He directed that cases should be registered against the institutions showing lack of co-operation and the persons concerned should be arrested.
The meeting was informed that the payment of salaries had been started in phases to the staff recruited for dengue spray and this process had been completed in Lahore, while arrangements would soon be made for this purpose in other cities as well.
The CM directed that timely payment of salaries to the staff should be ensured at any cost so that their efficiency was not affected. He warned that he would not tolerate delay in the payment of salaries to the staff engaged in anti-dengue campaign. Shahbaz further directed that awareness campaign against dengue should be continued while a mechanism should be developed to immediately address the complaints received on anti-dengue helpline.