Health
Punjab Suspends Health Officials After Measles Outbreak
The Punjab government has taken swift action against top health officials following the deaths of 10 children due to a measles outbreak in Khanewal and Kasur districts.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Fazalur Rehman, along with another official, have been suspended pending an investigation into the negligence that led to the tragic loss of life.
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According to reports, five children each died in Kabeerwala, Khanewal, and Pattoki, Kasur, prompting the government to launch an inquiry into the matter.
Health authorities have dispatched teams of senior medical teachers and public health officers to the affected districts to investigate the measles deaths.
Sources close to the matter have revealed that health authorities were aware of the measles outbreak weeks ago but chose to conceal the information, focusing instead on development projects to appease the chief minister.
The projects, which involved upgrading and renovating several hospitals, were prioritized over the health emergency, with frequent visits from the health secretary and minister to oversee progress.
The suspension of the health officers is seen as a move to divert attention from the government’s own negligence in handling the situation.
Sources suggest that it was a clear case of negligence by the two top health officials, who ignored reports of the measles outbreak to meet the chief minister’s deadlines.
The government’s swift action is seen as a positive step towards accountability, but many are questioning why it took the deaths of 10 children for action to be taken.
The investigation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what further action will be taken to ensure that such a tragedy is not repeated in the future.
