LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has directed to launch an anti-dengue campaign across the province and expressed concern over the surfacing of polio case.

The chief minister was chairing a meeting at his office on Friday where the health secretary gave him a briefing about anti-dengue and anti-polio steps.

Mr Buzdar said the health department, as well as the administration, needed to work hard for the eradication of polio and dengue, and the commissioners and deputy commissioners should monitor both the campaigns.

He directed that the dengue surveillance plan should be implemented in letter and spirit, adding that he would personally monitor the steps taken in this regard. He said it was his mission to save the province from both diseases and the line departments would be required to work hard for the purpose.

He said special attention would be paid to indoor and outdoor surveillance and the teams available in the field. He stated that standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the eradication of polio and dengue had been devised in the light of the World Health Organisation guidelines, adding that implementation on these SOPs was necessary to achieve the targets. There was no room for any negligence and poor performance would not be tolerated. “Every step will be audited and ‘All is well’ reports will not be helpful,” he stressed.

Provincial ministers, chief secretary, additional chief secretary, and Lahore and DG Khan commissioners attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2020