The Punjab Health Department on Saturday approved in principle the 'Pilot Health Programme' for school going children which will initially be launched at 12 selected government schools. While chairing a meeting here on Saturday, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said under the pilot programme, six boys and six girls will be provided necessary health cover. "By making our children healthy, many health targets could be achieved easily," she added.
Under the pilot programme, a doctor and a nurse would be assigned to every school besides all students will be provided with facility of necessary medical tests. The Minister directed that medical tests should be carried out after taking permission from parents. "I had talked to Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas and he was kind enough to agree with my idea. We will now sign an MOU which would pave way for the 'Pilot Health Programme' for school children," she added.
She acknowledged an offer by King Edward Medical University for free eye check up of school children and added that under the programme the students will be taught benefits of hygiene and nutrition, and will also be provided medical check up. She expressed her concern over growing complication of anemia in children and she said that low ratio of hemoglobin needs urgent attention of both the government and parents. She directed that problem of anemia should also be included in the programme.