National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) has evolved a comprehensive "School Health Programme" to be launched in 51 districts in next three years. Minister of State and Chairman NCHD, Dr Nasim Ashraf informed this to Provincial Health Minister of Punjab, Dr Tahir Javed who called on him here on Wednesday. Secretary Punjab Health Department, Sohail Ahmed was also present on the occasion. Dr Nasim Ashraf informed the provincial minister that school health programme was aimed at identifying the health problems of primary school children including dental care, personal hygiene, minor skin problems and hearing and vision problems.
He said that trained community midwives (at least two) would be employed in each Union Council under proposed system and the training would be given by NCHD.
These midwives would be given easy loans to establish mini maternal care system.
It was also mutually agreed that NCHD would help the Punjab government to implement its health sector reform including restructuring of basic health units (BHUs) and rural health centres (RHCs) in which lady health worker (LHW) programme will be strengthened to provide better antenatal care, immunisation of children and to bring improvement in infant & maternal mortality rates.
Nasim Ashraf said that the present health care programme lacks community reach because of wrong locations, untrained staff and non-effective referral system, which has been thoroughly addressed in the model proposed by NCHD.