The provincial dengue monitoring committee on Wednesday decided to take action against dengue workers, who would be found negligent of their duty in the high-risk districts, and issued instructions to the health department in this regard.
The decision was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Provincial Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr Akhtar Malik and Chief Secretary Punjab Abdullah Khan Sumbal, at the Civil Secretariat.
The additional chief secretary (south Punjab), administrative secretaries of various departments and officers concerned attended the meeting, while all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners participated through video-link.
Minister Akhtar Malik said that the stakeholders should enhance coordination for removing discrepancies in the dengue data. He asked officers to address the deficiencies identified in the monitoring, surveillance and reporting system.
He also issued instructions to the administration in Lahore, Multan, Gujranwala and Sheikhupura to remain alert in view of the dengue situation.
Assigning the responsibilities to the special branch regarding monitoring of dengue and smog, Abdullah Khan Sumbal said that the situation should be closely monitored for the next two weeks.
He said that the Punjab Information and Technology Board (PITB) should share data with the Health Department on a daily basis.
Health Secretary Dr Irshad Ahmed gave a detailed briefing to the meeting. He said that the Health Department had ample stock of essential medicines and mosquito spray and more than 20,000 dengue workers were performing field duties.
