Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has said that enhancing the coverage of routine immunisation up to hundred percent for eradication of vaccine preventable diseases is essential under Extended Programme of Immunisation (EPI) to eliminate such diseases. He said that population of Punjab is 51 percent of the total population of the country whereas routine immunisation coverage is at present up to 70 percent which is better than the other areas of the country but there is still a need for hard work to secure women and children from diseases.
He stated this while addressing an inaugural session of a training course for master trainers for EPI supervisors at Punjab Health Development Centre (PHDC) on Tuesday. Director General Health Dr Zahid Pervaiz, Director PHDC Dr Sohail Saqlain, officers of Special Monitoring Unit (SMU) doctors and nutrition supervisors from different districts were present in the function. This training course will continue till April 16.
Salman Rafique said that strict monitoring and E-vaccs system has been launched in Punjab to monitor and evaluate the working of vaccinators at district level. Moreover, Chief Minister himself holds meetings every month to review the situation and evaluate the performance of Health Department.
Salman Rafique said that by the Grace of Allah and due to the tireless efforts of the vaccinators and better administrative decisions, only four polio cases were reported in Punjab last year. Out of these forth case of polio had migrated from Loralai. DG Health Dr Zahid Pervaiz said that the healthy society can only be created if routine immunisation coverage reaches up to hundred percent.