The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) is ensuring use of sterile medical equipment in the public and private hospitals and monitoring teams have been formed for implementation in this regard.

PHC Chairperson Prof. Dr. Atiya Mubarak stated this while addressing infection-free week ceremony held at Lahore General Hospital on Friday.

Prof. Dr. Atiya Mubarak said that controlling the infection is not a difficult task but it is necessary to work with as much awareness and teamwork. Admiring the steps taken in this regard at the LGH by Principal PGMI Prof. Alf-reed Zafar, she said it shows the seriousness of this important issue.

Prof. Atiya said that young doctors are our future while nurses and paramedical staff also have to play an important role in patient care and their early recovery. She urged the people associated with the medicine to extend maximum medical care to the patients through laid down protocols so that they can protect themselves from diseases as well. She said the Lahore General Hospital has implemented on standardized prescription and defined SOPs.

The purpose of the event was to create awareness among the people and to provide an infection free environment in hospitals. LGH has set up a comprehensive plan for promoting infection-free culture which will utilize the services of all stakeholders so that 2020 can be celebrated as an infection-free year at the LGH.

Addressing the ceremony, Principal Prof. Al-Fareed Zafar and MS Dr. Mahmood Salahuddin said that providing a clean environment in hospitals could reduce costs. The surgeons have to be more vigilant in performing their services so that they can save themselves from infection as well.

Dr. Laila Shafiq, Dr. Irfan Malik, Dr. Amina Asif and Dr. Riaz Hafeez threw light on the infection-free week being held at LGH. Participants of the ceremony pledged to make Lahore General Hospital, a state-of-the-art treatment facility, and a clean environment for citizens.

Moreover, the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, USA, will extend cooperation to the Institute of Public Health (IPH) for estimation of the global burden of disease in Pakistan and facilitate in research and education activities.