PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court bench was informed on Wednesday by provincial health department that so far 3,861 patients suffering from dengue fever were treated in government-run health facilities whereas 235 were still under treatment.

A bench of Justice Qaiser Rasheed and Justice Ahmad Ali was told by deputy director of health Dr Imran that the department had taken several measures for treatment of dengue patients and set up isolation wards in public sector hospitals for them.

The bench directed the provincial government including district administrations and health department to increase fumigation in the affected areas so that the disease could be curtailed.

PHC directs govt to increase fumigation in affected areas

The bench directed the health department to submit regular reports to the court regarding situation updates of the diseases in different parts of the province specially Peshawar.

During previous hearing on September 19, the court had directed the health department to establish separate wards in major hospitals across the province for dengue patients and also to take action against laboratories involved in improper testing of the disease.

Usman Gillani, an assistant commissioner, also turned up before the bench and stated that the administration had taken several steps to curtail the disease. He said that they had been carrying out regular fumigation in the affected areas.

The bench was hearing writ petition filed by advocates of high court, Saifullah Muhib Kakakhel and Shah Faisal Ilyas.

The petitioners have requested the court to direct the respondents including provincial government, secretary health, secretary local government and Peshawar deputy commissioner to take immediate steps for eradication of the dengue virus in Peshawar.

They have requested the court to order the government to take both preventive and curative measures for curtailing dengue fever.

The petitions were filed in 2017 when most parts of Peshawar were affected by dengue fever and people in large number were admitted to different hospitals.

Meanwhile, a bench of PHC Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Abdul Shakoor directed Peshawar district administration to submit its report about detention of 16 health professionals under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance.

The bench fixed October 3 for hearing two writ petitions, challenging the detention orders issued by Peshawar deputy commissioner under which the detainees including some doctors were arrested and sent to Mardan jail.

An additional advocate general, Qaiser Ali Shah, contended that health had been declared as essential service by the government and the detainees had been violating that law.

The chief justice observed that essential services did not mean to torture government employees and severely beat them.

One of the petitions has been filed jointly by 15 of the detainees including Syed Roaidad Shah, Dr Alamgir Yousafzai and others. The other petition has been filed by a detainee, Shamsul Arifeen.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2019