Benazir Nashonuma programme launched

LAHORE: Benazir Nashonuma Programme has been launched in the province to address the malnutrition of children and take care of their healthy lives, says Minister Primary and Secondary Healthcare Kh Imran Nazeer.

He was presiding over the launching ceremony of Benazir Nashonuma Programme held at a local hotel. The health minister formally inaugurated the Nashonuma Centre. DG Health Services Dr Ilyas Gondal, Programme Director, IRMNCH, Dr Khalil, Head of World Food Programme Dr Amara Khan, Ms Sabahat from UNICEF Punjab, World Food Programme and WHO representatives, besides a large number of social media mobilisers were present.

During the briefing it was stated that these centres are being established in the government hospitals of 26 districts of Punjab, where micro-nutrition supplements will be provided to children free of charge. The minister observed, “We can have a better impact on children's health and life through change of our social behaviour.” The parents need to be fully aware of children's health and nutrition, the minister stressed. Kh Imran Nazeer said that a health nation can be established if ‘we focus on rich nutrition and training to children’.

He said for the protection of children's health and life, preventive programme will be activated. Kh Imran Nazeer said that the previous government destroyed the health system through corruption, huge money was taken for postings. The provincial health minister said that the National Nutrition Task Force, stakeholders and the media should prepare recommendations on the healthy life of children and these recommendations will be made part of the schools’ curriculum. The Benazir Nashonuma programme function was addressed by the representatives of the partners, DG Health Services and PD IRMNCH. Later, the provincial health minister distributed shields among them.

Kh Salman inaugurates Fistula Centre, ROP Telemedicine

Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique inaugurated the Fistula Centre and ROP Telemedicine at Government Shahdara Teaching Hospital.

On this occasion, MPA Samiullah Khan, FJMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Masood Gondal, Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Kamran Khalid, Prof Dr Moin, and other faculty members were present.

The minister visited the children in the thalassemia ward and also distributed gifts.

Salman Rafique in his address to the participants of the event said that the government will fulfill all other needs, including HR in Shahdara Teaching Hospital on priority basis. There will be no difficulty in the treatment of patients in Shahdara Teaching Hospital. Efforts are being made to ensure that no patient coming to Shahdara Teaching Hospital is referred to a big hospital. We want to make the hospital a tertiary care hospital in true sense. Shahdara Teaching Hospital is being equipped with modern medical facilities. Politics over patient service is not acceptable in any case. We are trying to complete the ongoing revamping project in government hospitals as soon as possible, we are going to build the state-of-the-art Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research in Lahore and the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology in Sargodha.