OUR STAFF REPORTER LAHORE Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that a comprehensive programme has been evolved for the training of doctors, nurses and experts both in home and aboard in the eradication of dengue virus. Chairing a meeting to review measures for eradication of dengue from the province here on Friday, he said that first batch of 110 doctors, nurses, epidemiologists and entomologists was leaving for Thailand on December 5. Assembly members, Chief Secretary, secretaries of various departments and experts were present. The Chief Minister said that experts would also be sent for training to Sri Lanka. Issuing instructions for making School Health Programme effective and vibrant, he said that reorganization of this system was of vital importance and recommendations should soon be submitted in this regard. He said that it was a big challenge to counter the worst outbreak of dengue in the history, however, Punjab government adopted a timely and comprehensive strategy for this purpose due to which thousands of lives were saved and excellent curative facilities were provided to the patients. He said that besides government hospitals, free treatment facilities were provided to dengue patients in private and welfare hospitals while blood test fee in laboratories was fixed at Rs 90. He said that a mechanism has been devised on permanent basis for eradication of dengue from the province and a long term policy has been devised for this purpose. He said that high dependency units for dengue patients have been set up in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Multan, Faisalabad and Sheikhupura. He said that similar units should be set up in all districts of the province to cope with any situation in future and Secretary Health should present a plan in this regard. He said that the topic of dengue was being included in the syllabus and it should also be taught at university level along with schools and colleges so that maximum awareness could be promoted in students about this virus.