Dr. Javed Akram, the head of the anti-monkeypox committee in Punjab, has threatened to resign due to the lack of cooperation from the Border Health Authority and the airports administration in the fight against monkeypox.
Dr Akram expressed his frustration with the Civil Aviation Authority during an exclusive interview with Samaa TV, highlighting several issues hindering efforts to prevent the spread of the disease.
Dr Akram criticized airport officials for not participating in critical meetings concerning monkeypox prevention. "The airport authorities are not cooperating, and when it came to training the airline staff, no one was sent for the purpose," he lamented. He added that during one meeting, airport officials cited rain as an excuse for not attending.
"If there is no cooperation in the next meeting, I will resign from the chairmanship of the committee," Dr. Akram warned. He emphasized that without proper support, the committee's efforts would be futile, stating, "There is no use of a committee that no one listens to."
Dr. Akram underscored the importance of airports and borders in preventing the spread of monkeypox, noting that the disease primarily enters the country through travellers. However, he pointed out that thermal scanners at various airports, including Lahore, were not functioning properly, and called for quarantine measures to be implemented for suspected monkeypox cases at airports.
"The Border Health Authority and the airports administration are not cooperating at all," Dr. Akram said, adding that the Civil Aviation Authority's approach to monkeypox prevention is alarmingly lax. "We don't have a magic wand to fix airports. Officials say they will send suspected patients to hospitals, while nowhere in the world, sick visitors from foreign countries are allowed to enter cities," he asserted.
He further criticized the authorities for being unwilling to allocate funds for quarantine facilities near airports, saying, "They are not ready to give money to turn hotels near airports into quarantine centres."
Dr. Akram also expressed concern about the potential consequences of this lack of preparedness. "When monkeypox breaks out, everyone will start working," he warned, indicating that the current inaction could lead to a public health crisis.
He stressed that airport officials have a critical role to play in preventing the spread of monkeypox and urged them to take the necessary precautions before it is too late.
