Punjab’s first paraplegic centre starts working

LAHORE: Punjab’s first paraplegic centre for the rehabilitation of patients paralysed due to spinal cord injury has started functioning at the Government General Hospital, Samanabad.

The 20-bed centre was inaugurated by Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman here Thursday. The chief secretary inspected various parts of the centre, including the workshop for the preparation of prosthetic limbs and physiotherapy room. He also inquired the under-treatment patients about the healthcare being provided to them.

The chief secretary said that providing the best health facilities in hospitals is the priority of the government. He said that five centres were being established in the province for the rehabilitation of the people paralysed due to spinal cord injury.

He said that the paraplegic centre has started functioning formally, while the paraplegic centres in Multan, Faisalabad, Taunsa and Wah Cantt would also be made functional soon. The health department officials gave a briefing to the chief secretary. They said that an online record of all the patients under treatment in the centre was being compiled.

They mentioned that the counselling facility would also be provided to patients for making them useful citizens in the society. They said that a workshop was set up in the paraplegic centre for the preparation of prosthetic limbs. They further said that in the OPD of Government General Hospital, Samanabad, more than 2,000 patients were being provided treatment facilities daily.

World Stroke Day symposium

Caretaker Provincial Health Minister Prof Dr Javed Akram has said that the stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide.

'The stroke occurs due to suspension of blood supply to the brain, which can happen to any person at any age,' he said, addressing an awareness symposium on the occasion of World Stroke Day at Punjab Institute of Neurosciences. Punjab Institute of Neurosciences Executive Director Prof Dr Asif Bashir, Services Institute Medical Sciences Principal Prof Dr Zohra Khanum, MS Prof Dr Jodat Saleem, Prof Dr Qasim Bashir and other faculty members participated.

Caretaker Provincial Health Minister Prof Dr Javed Akram said that spreading awareness about stroke prevention in our society has become very important. The caretaker Punjab government is 100% focused on public service.

The minister said that uncontrolled blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and weight gain can cause stroke. According to the population of the entire province, including Lahore, government hospitals should be increased. In Punjab, about 200 CT scan machines are being installed.