Maryam orders upgrade of all basic, rural health centres

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz spent a busy day on Wednesday as she chaired three separate meetings on the province’s healthcare system, technical education and tourism promotion, besides visiting the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) in Lahore.

While chairing a three-hour-long meeting to review the health sector projects, she ordered strict legal action against corrupt mafia found in government hospitals. The health secretary gave a detailed presentation on public sector hospitals, medicines and other matters, related to health reforms.

The CM ordered for making the field hospitals and clinics-on-wheel projects fully functional at the earliest. She also ordered for construction, repair and upgrading of all rural health centres (RHCs) and basic health units (BHUs). She was briefed that the upgradation of 2,500 BHUs and 300 RHCs across the province would be completed this year.

The CM also ordered to build Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology, Sargodha, on the land adjacent to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, and complete Phase-I of the cancer hospital in Lahore this year. She was briefed that the hospital would be completed in two years. She ordered engaging the best cancer specialists in the world for the hospital in Lahore. Maryam ordered to ensure the presence of doctors and medical staff in every government hospital in each district.

Separately, CM Maryam Nawaz visited the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), Lahore, and expressed her displeasure over unhygienic conditions. She visited the PIC Emergency Block and inquired about the situation at the reception counter. The CM reviewed the facilities being provided in the emergency block. On a complaint of non-availability of medicines, Maryam ordered to start a service to deliver medicines at home soon. She visited patients under treatment in the emergency block and asked about their welfare. She expressed her displeasure at seeing dirty bedsheets.

Wajida Gul of Peshawar, who was being treated in the ward, became overwhelmed while talking to the CM. She said she had to come from Peshawar for heart treatment. The CM directed the hospital authorities to provide more facilities for Wajida’s treatment.

Meanwhile, CM Maryam Nawaz directed the authorities concerned to conduct a complete mapping of the skillset required by the local and international labour markets. Addressing a meeting on technical education and vocational training in Punjab, she ordered the preparation of a five-year comprehensive plan to revamp the Technical and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA). Separately, CM Maryam Nawaz sought a comprehensive Punjab tourism plan in seven days and ordered to undertake mapping of tourist sites across Punjab. She also ordered to undertake mapping of sites available for religious tourism. The CM chaired a meeting in which the tourism secretary gave a briefing. It was agreed to celebrate the Baisakhi festival in Punjab and CM Maryam Nawaz granted approval in this regard. She ordered to formulation of a short-term and a long-term strategy for the promotion of tourism in the province. Maryam ordered to undertake comprehensive planning to provide international-level facilities to each tourist visiting Punjab, adding that the provision of complete security to every tourist was the first and foremost responsibility of the government. The CM ordered identification of holy places of Sikh pilgrims along with formulating a complete development plan. The Sikh community and followers of other religions coming to Punjab would be provided a tourist package. Meanwhile, Multan Commissioner Maryam Khan visited cylinder blast and house collapse victims at Nishtar Hospital burns unit and asked doctors about their treatment facilities. She also met the victims and presented them with bouquets. The commissioner informed the victims that the Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had ordered their free treatment. The commissioner also directed Deputy Commissioner Rizwan Qadeer to bear all burial expenses and Qul of the deceased. Earlier, Commissioner Maryam Khan and Deputy Commissioner Rizwan Qadeer also visited the incident site in Mohallah Jogianwala, where a three-storeyed house had collapsed, killing nine persons, including majority of members of a family.