Anti-dengue activities: Minister for strict accountability of under-performing officers

LAHORE:Provincial Health Ministers Khawaja Salman Rafique said that there will be zero tolerance for violation of dengue SOPs and no negligence will be tolerated in anti-dengue operations. There will be strict accountability of officers who do not work during the dengue season. Dengue will not be possible to combat without the hard work of all the departments concerned.

He expressed these views while addressing a meeting of the Technical Working Group for Anti-Dengue in the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department on Monday. Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir was also present in the meeting. Steps taken by the Technical Working Group to deal with dengue were reviewed during the meeting. The ministers directed all the departments concerned to remain active. Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Nadia Saqib gave a briefing on the latest situation of dengue. Dean IPH Prof Saira Afzal gave a briefing on SOPs.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said that all the departments will run a very effective preventive campaign in this dengue season. 100 percent implementation of the recommendations of the Technical Working Group will be ensured. All activities of the anti-dengue campaign will be subject to third-party validation. Secretaries of allied departments should ensure implementation of the decisions taken in the dengue meeting. Heads of departments should be active in the field themselves.

Khawaja Imran Nazir said that more hard work is required in this dengue season compared to last year. Surveillance of anti-dengue activities across the province is very important. Special surveillance should be conducted in junkyards and graveyards within the district limits.

The meeting was attended by DG Health Services Punjab Dr Ilyas Gondal, DG Drugs Dr Sohail, representatives of the World Health Organisation, Director CDC Dr Yadullah, technical experts and representatives of PITB. Technical Expert Professor Wasim Akram and Chairman DEAG Professor Imran Hassan participated through video link.

Children’s Heart Surgery Programme reviewed

An important meeting regarding the Chief Minister’s Children’s Heart Surgery Programme was held in the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department under the chairmanship of Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique.

The meeting was attended by Punjab Health Secretary Azmat Mahmood. A detailed review of the Chief Minister’s Children’s Heart Surgery Programme was taken during the meeting. Khawaja Salman Rafique said that the Chief Minister’s Children’s Heart Surgery Programme is continuing successfully. Feedback was taken from all the relevant government and private children’s hospitals in this regard during the meeting. More than 2,870 innocent children have undergone successful surgeries under the CM’s Children’s Heart Surgery Programme since its launch and in this regard no negligence is being tolerated. The Punjab government is ensuring transparency in the entire system of the Children’s Heart Surgery Programme.

The meeting was attended by Dr Adnan Khan, Vice Chancellor University of Child Health Sciences Prof Masood Sadiq, Chairman Chief Minister’s Task Force Dr Farqad Alamgir, Dr Misfarah and the administration of Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology through video link.

The meeting was also attended by Special Secretary Operations Tariq Mahmood Rahmani, Special Secretary Development Zeeshan Shabbir Rana, Additional Secretary Technical Dr M Waseem and Additional Secretary Dr Waheed Asghar from the Department of Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education.