Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif approved an amount of Rs 500 million for extending free health facilities in labour room and Paediatric indoor units of DHQ and THQ hospitals in the province. This was revealed by Director General Health Dr Nisar Cheema while addressing a meeting of EDOs Health of all districts of the Punjab and Divisional Directors of Health here at Institute of Public Health on Saturday.
Dr Cheema said the Punjab government is spending substantial amount for provision of quality medical facilities to people free of cost. Special Secretary Health Punjab Babar Hayat Tarrar said that checking of accounts of District Health Offices is being started soon to ensure proper use of funds of billions of rupees allocated for providing healthcare facilities to the people. In this connection, the checking of accounts of Health Department Nankana has already been ordered for which report within a month would be submitted.
He directed the officers to chalk out their monthly work plan and implement on it strictly so that their performance could be improved and health delivery system also be made more efficient. "Our main focus is to improve health delivery system in Punjab for which Health Department has to work day and night. EDOs and District Officers Health should also launch a social mobilisation campaign to attract female segment of the society for optimum utilisation of regular health facilities at government hospitals by pregnant women," he said.
He further said that delivery under the supervision of lady doctor, lady health visitor or through skilled birth attendant is necessary to control maternal mortality rate. Dr Nisar Cheema asked the EDOs Health to improve routine EPI coverage as well as anti-polio campaign should be carried out in a more effective manner for achieving the set goals. He regretted that there are only three countries in the world including Pakistan where polio virus is still existing. He urged upon the officers to work with more commitment and dedication for eradication of polio menace. WHO Representative Dr Wanday stressed on social mobilisation, better training of polio teams and coverage of not available children during anti-polio campaign.
The representative of Bill Gates Foundation, Dr Aslam Chaudhry informed that WHO and UNICEF will provide Pushto speaking health workers for anti-polio campaign to administer polio vaccine drops to the children of Pushtoon population settled in different cities of Punjab to achieve the target of the anti-polio campaign through better communication and co-ordination with them.