LAHORE, Jan 27: Punjab Chief Secretary Nasir Mehmood Khosa has directed divisional commissioners and Health Department officials to utilize resources to control measles in the province.

He said a surveillance system should be evolved so that if there was any case of measles in any area, it could be reported. He said district coordination officers and other district administration officials should monitor the mop-up campaign in the affected areas.

He issued these directions at a meeting of divisional commissioners on Sunday. Health Secretary Arif Nadeem, Health Director General Nisar Cheema, EPI Director (Health) Dr Tanveer Hussain and representative of WHO Dr Wende were present.

Mr Khosa directed the setting up of isolation wards for measles patients in government hospitals. He said that the provincial monitors appointed at district level should effectively monitor the mop-up campaign and surveillance of measles. He asked them to keep informing the control room set up in the Health Department’s headquarters about the measles cases every day.