Number of dengue patients increasing in Peshawar

Muqam says Punjab dengue teams denied entry to hospitals

PESHAWAR: The number of dengue patients rose in Peshawar, while the teams of health professionals and mobile health units, dispatched by the Punjab government to control dengue virus as a goodwill gesture, reached the provincial capital on Saturday.

Punjab Minister for Health Khawaja Imran Nazir who was heading the teams and mobile units, later on called on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra at Governor’s House, Peshawar.

"Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had pledged to support the provincial government in efforts of providing better services to the victims of dengue virus. He has sent senior health experts to Peshawar with all the requirements needed to the dengue patients," Amir Muqam, PML-N provincial chief told The News. He said they had to set up a camp at the hujra or
male guesthouse of former MPA Ateefur Rahman after the KP government denied them access to the public sector hospitals.

Amir Muqam said Punjab Health Minister Imran Nazir led the 15-member team of health experts. The doctors were having a mobile dispensary equipped with all the modern equipment and drugs.

Dr Abid Khan Niazi, one of the health experts came from Punjab, said they started providing all type of services, including screening, investigation, X-ray and free drugs, to the patients.

Amir Muqam said that they might call more doctors and well-equipped dispensaries if outbreak of dengue was not controlled within few days. He said dozens of patients were being brought to their mobile dispensary where senior health experts were treating them.

Amir Muqam said the aim of their efforts was to help the victims of dengue virus and control its spread before it could take other precious human lives.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai had earlier declined to seek any help from the Punjab government, saying that they had all the resources to provide free services to the patients.