'Every IDP's child to be vaccinated against polio in Punjab'

Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq has directed that every child of IDPs coming to Punjab must be vaccinated against polio as unvaccinated children can pose a threat to the entire population. While chairing a meeting to review the polio situation in Punjab, here on Monday, Khawaja directed that special surveillance must be carried out in Attock, Mianwali, Bhakkar and Dera Ghazi Khan districts and immunisation of children be ensured.
Provincial In charge of World Health Organisation Dr Ubaid-ul-Islam, Dr Aslam Chaudhry from Melindagates Foundation, Director General Health Dr Zahid Pervaiz, and EDO Health Lahore Dr Zulfiqar Ali also attended the meeting. Dr Ubaid-ul-Islam presented a report regarding the polio situation. He suggested that target polio campaign should be launched in those districts where IDPs are coming. He disclosed that one day polio campaign on July 17 in 23 high risk Union Councils (UCs) of Lahore is a very successful drive and the coverage rate of the campaign is 90 percent.
Kh Salman Rafiq directed that the meeting of Provincial Taskforce for Polio Eradication immediately be called. He also directed that special focus should be given on micro planning of one-day polio campaign in 52 union councils of Lahore on July 24 so that this campaign should also be a successful campaign. Moreover, Secretary Health Punjab Dr Ijaz Munir presided over a meeting to review development work at Government Shahdra Teaching Hospital.
Principal Fatima Jinnah Medical College/ Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Professor Dr Fakhar Imam, Additional Secretary Health (Dev) Ghulam Farid, Deputy Secretary Health (Admn) Raja Mansoor, Deputy Secretary-General Dr Shoaib Anwar, Deputy Secretary (Budget & Accounts) Sarfraz Ahmad and Medical Superintendent Government Shahdra Hospital Dr Muhammad Naeem attended the meeting, which reviewed the pace of development work at the hospital.
Secretary Health issued instructions for the posting of doctors for making all the departments of the hospitals fully functional. He ordered posting of doctors in gynae, ICU, anesthesia, nursery and orthopaedics departments. He said that shortage of doctors/specialists in Government Shahdra Hospital would soon be removed. He directed to ensure that all departments of the hospital are fully functional by August 15. He said the Government Shahdra Hospital is providing healthcare facilities not only to the people of Shahdra but also to millions of people of adjoining areas and after posting of doctors at the vacant seats, the performance of the hospital would be further improved.