Dengue effort misdirected, says Lankan team in Punjab
September 16, 2011 11:19 am
Visiting Sri Lankan doctors told the Punjab government that it needed to review its existing strategy regarding platelets and spray for curbing dengue virus.
“Sri Lanka had confronted a devastating a situation in 2009 like the one in Pakistan today. No country can claim to have completely eradicated the virus, but through preventive measures, proper attention by doctors and community participation, the situation can be controlled,” they observed while attending meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif at the CM’s Secretariat to review measures against dengue virus.
Apart from Lankan experts, MNAs and MPAs, secretaries of various departments, religious scholars and senior doctors attended the meeting.
The Lankan team head Dr Kolitha Sellahewa said there was no shortcut to dealing with the challenge, adding that only a long-term planning was that was needed. They said the government, experts and general public would have to make collective and concerted efforts to cope with the challenge. “It is a matter of satisfaction that the Punjab government is making determined efforts, and the CM is personally engaged in this war,” they opined.
The CM said his government was taking all measures for controlling dengue virus, and a special taskforce, headed by Chief Secretary, had also been formed for evolving long-term planning for the eradication of dengue virus, which would also help in controlling other viral diseases. “The campaign is like a movement in which students, doctors, civil society and people of all walks of life have been included. Every person will have to play an active role against dengue virus,” he was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s The Nation.
“Sri Lanka had confronted a devastating a situation in 2009 like the one in Pakistan today. No country can claim to have completely eradicated the virus, but through preventive measures, proper attention by doctors and community participation, the situation can be controlled,” they observed while attending meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif at the CM’s Secretariat to review measures against dengue virus.
Apart from Lankan experts, MNAs and MPAs, secretaries of various departments, religious scholars and senior doctors attended the meeting.
The Lankan team head Dr Kolitha Sellahewa said there was no shortcut to dealing with the challenge, adding that only a long-term planning was that was needed. They said the government, experts and general public would have to make collective and concerted efforts to cope with the challenge. “It is a matter of satisfaction that the Punjab government is making determined efforts, and the CM is personally engaged in this war,” they opined.
The CM said his government was taking all measures for controlling dengue virus, and a special taskforce, headed by Chief Secretary, had also been formed for evolving long-term planning for the eradication of dengue virus, which would also help in controlling other viral diseases. “The campaign is like a movement in which students, doctors, civil society and people of all walks of life have been included. Every person will have to play an active role against dengue virus,” he was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s The Nation.
