LAHORE - An extensive Dengue Awareness Activity was carried out by Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) on Saturday to sensitise masses to adopt precautionary measures for dengue prevention.
An awareness walk from Liaqat Chowk to Sabzazar Cricket Stadium was led by MPA Mian Marghoob at PP-150 Sabzazar as a continuation to LWMC’s Anti Dengue Campaign, already in progress.
Project Coordinator OZPAK Ismat Savuk, Manager Communication LWMC Jamil Khawar, Manager Operations Saeed Khan and others were among the participants of the activity.
The awareness team briefed local residents about the proper disposal of garbage and tried to convince them not to dispose of waste openly.
Mian Marghoob appreciated the work of LWMC management and workers, saying that ultimate benefits of new solid waste management system had reached to common man. He said that the goal of clean Lahore could not be materialised until the citizens start realising their responsibilities.
The drive also included public briefing, leafleting and door-to-door complaint redressal. Special arrangements including sweeping of streets and roads, clearance of garbage heaps from open plots were also made during the drive.
Moreover, during this dengue season LWMC’s crew has cleaned up 4000 open plots and transferred more than 300,000 tons of waste of Lahore city to the dumpsite.
Meanwhile, Principal Postgraduate Medical Institute and Lahore General Hospital Prof Anjam Habib Vohra has posted six additional medical superintendents for monitoring treatment of dengue patients. These AMSs will ensure all medical facilities at beds of dengue.
Prof Vohra has cancelled holidays of doctors, nurses, paramedics and sanitary staff deputed to serve dengue patients. Sanitary inspectors and nursing superintendent would perform duty on Sunday.
The focal persons are Dr Qaiser Perveen, Dr Rashid Hassan, Dr Khalid Mahmood, Dr Tariq Sultan Butt, Dr Munaza Kokab and Dr Munawar Ali.
On Friday, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed all the departments and concerned institutions to ensure complete implementation of anti-dengue plan.
Presiding over a meeting, the chief minister said that the Health Department should work efficiently for the monitoring of dengue patients, adding that best treatment facilities should be provided to them in hospitals. He issued instructions for immediate action against those responsible for the death of a dengue patient in Lahore and directed that stern punishment under the law should be awarded to those who showed carelessness in the treatment of the dengue patient.
Shahbaz Sharif further directed that all out preventive measures be adopted for controlling Ebola virus.
He also reviewed the steps taken against dengue virus in Rawalpindi division and issued instructions to elected representatives and administration through video link. He also issued instructions for a third-party audit of the steps taken against dengue, saying that a committee be constituted for improving the anti-dengue plan.
He said that the committee should review the whole system and submit its recommendations in the light of which immediate reforms be introduced for further improvement.
Shahbaz Sharif expressed indignation over the increase in the number of dengue patients in Rawalpindi and non-implementation of the preventive measures. He reprimanded the concerned authorities and directed that special attention be paid to dengue surveillance in Rawalpindi.