Punjab Minister for Population Welfare Neelam Jabbar Chaudhry has said that availability of skilled birth attendants at all levels of rural and urban healthcare welfare centres is being ensured. While talking to delegations of NGOs engaged in the welfare of women folk on Saturday, Neelam said the posts of gynaecologists, LHVs and LHWs in the welfare and health centres are being filled.
She said that people should be aware of the fact that the increase in population without resources creates socio-economic imbalance in the society. Neelam further said that reforms in health sectors are being initiated in the province under which modern health facilities would be provided to the masses at their doorsteps. She said that 70 percent population resides in rural areas and the government is upgrading welfare health centres at rural areas for provision of modern health facilities especially to women folk.
She said that infant and mother suffer from critical diseases due to non-availability of standardised nutritious diet, medical facilities, required medicines and absence of protective measures. However, the people living in remote areas are not aware of the treatment and protective measures regarding these disease/circumstances, therefore, the doctors and the lady health workers should play their due role.
She said that 80 percent children are being benefited through preventive healthcare programmes at present and through effective campaign regarding preventive strategy we would achieve the cent percent target in coming years.
She stressed upon the NGOs to create awareness among the rural folk especially in far-flung areas regarding the harmful affects of deficiency of iron. The Punjab government is upgrading the infrastructure and facilities at rural areas apart from taking initiatives for improvement of mother and child health through antenatal and postnatal services by public sector hospitals.