Lahore, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has responded to a measles outbreak in Patuki that resulted in children’s deaths, calling out the health department’s “negligence and incompetence” and taking immediate action to prevent further casualties. The chief minister has ordered an increase in ‘Clinic on Wheels’ and ‘Field Hospitals’ in affected areas and established a special ward at the Tehsil Headquarters hospital for measles cases.
According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, on directions from CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Provincial Ministers Khawaja Salman Rafique and Khawaja Imran Nazir visited the Basic Health Unit Kot Haq Nawaz in suburban Kabir Wala to assess the situation and gather firsthand accounts from the parents of affected children.
The Chief Minister has directed health officials to ensure the best possible care for the affected children and to undertake daily monitoring of measles and other infectious diseases. Moreover, she has called for immediate reports on the outbreak’s causes and emphasized ensuring the availability of vaccinations against all diseases in health centers across Punjab.