As directed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a twelve member Sri Lankan medical team arrived in Lahore, Pakistan on September 14th to share their expertise with Pakistani authorities in treating the dengue patients and help control dengue mainly in the Punjab province. Upon arrival at the Lahore Airport, the Sri Lankan team was received by the Chief Minister of Panjab, Shahbaz Sharif.
The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for dispatching the medical team to Pakistan to assist the authorities in tackling the dengue fever. The leader of Sri Lanka delegation, Dr. Hasitha Tissera symbolically handed over a package of medicine and other items to the Chief Minister for the treatment of dengue patients and to help control the spread of disease. Sri Lankan team of experts is the first foreign medical delegation to arrive on a request made by the Government of Pakistan to the international community.
The Sri Lankan experts during their stay in Pakistan would share their expertise with Pakistan medical officers, nurses and grass-roots level social leaders.
So far, over 9000 dengue cases have been reported in Lahore and nine people have died of the virus.
Sri Lanka High Commission
Islamabad
20th September, 2011
