LAHORE
Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir has said for better growth of infants, prevention from diseases and overcoming infant mortality rate, breastfeeding will be promoted in Punjab. He said for this purpose, necessary amendments would be introduced in the breastfeeding act.
He stated this while chairing a meeting of newly re-constituted infant feeding board on Tuesday, according to a handout. Provincial Director Integrated Reproductive Mother, Newborn and Child Health & Neutrician Programme Dr Mukhtar Hussain Syed, Additional Director Dr Akhtar Rasheed Malik, representatives of Baby Milk Manufacturers Association, female members from Punjab Assembly and other officers attended the meeting.
Briefing the board, Dr Akhtar Rasheed said necessary amendments have been proposed in the breastfeeding act according to the present requirements. He said all the stakeholders including manufacturers of formula milk products have been taken on board.
Kh Imran Nazir said the board meeting should be called every month for early implementation on the decisions. He said proposed amendments should be finalised by July 31 for sending these to the Law Department. Dr Akhtar Rasheed said breastfeeding promotion committees would be constituted in all public sector hospitals. It was also proposed that the formula milk manufacturer companies would be bound to write instructions in Urdu on labels just like warning written on the cigarette packet.
Dr Akhtar Rasheed said orientation and implementation strategy would be prepared with the collaboration of the stakeholders and monitoring inspectors would also be deputed to ensure implementation.
Kh Imran Nazir said comprehensive awareness campaign through media would be lunched for the promotion of breastfeeding. Dr Akhtar Rasheed said 60 thousand deliveries performed at public sector health facilities monthly.
Therefore, lactation management clinics also be proposed at public sector hospitals to solve the complications of feeding mothers.
The minister said that competitions of healthy babies also be arranged in the districts. He said the basic objective of introducing amendments in breastfeeding act is to prevent the children from diseases and to promote a healthy society. He said breastfeeding is the important segment of disease prevention programme. The purpose of these initiatives is not to close down the formula milk industry but to promote breastfeeding in society, the minister said.
portal: The Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department has successfully launched online leave portal for applying ex-Pakistan leave, earned leave and extraordinary leave up to six months of health professionals.
New system will be implemented from 22nd June (tomorrow). All the vice-chancellors of medical universities, principals of medical colleges/hospitals, specialised health institutions and medical superintendents have been asked to send such leave applications only through online leave portal.
According to a handout issued here on Tuesday, a spokesman of Health Department has said that the applications received only through this online system will be entertained. He said that manual submission of these type leave applications shall not be considered. This initiative has been taken only to facilitate health professionals.
He said a comprehensive training of new system has been given to all concerned and log in credentials have also been shared.
The spokesman said that verification of all relevant documents for leave shall be the responsibility of the respective head of the institute/ hospital.
He said that proper filling of online application forms must be ensured to avoid any mistake as the leave order will be generated online accordingly as per information provided.
In case of any query, in-charge of IT cell may be contacted through email ictc.healthpunjab.gov.pk or office phone No.042-99211166.