Vaccination centres inaugurated in Peshawar and Mardan

PESHAWAR: Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah has inaugurated the country’s first 24/7 Vaccination Centres at Maulvi Ameer Shah Memorial Hospital in Peshawar and the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Mardan.

A handout said the inauguration ceremony was attended by Medical Superintendent Dr Akram Shah, District Health Officer Dr Idrees, UNICEF representatives, and other relevant officials in Peshawar.

In Mardan, the minister, accompanied by local MPAs and DHQ Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Javed, cut the Pakistan Day cake and officially inaugurated the Vaccination Centre.Speaking to the media in Peshawar, Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah said that these centers would remain operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The centers feature four counters, which will remain active round the clock. Separate counters have been designated for pregnant women to receive tetanus and diphtheria vaccines, routine immunizations, and newborns as part of the Birth Dose Initiative.

Additionally, a special 24-hour counter has been established for people traveling abroad, including those going abroad for Hajj and Umrah, where they can receive COVID-19 and polio vaccinations and obtain their vaccination cards at any time.

The minister announced plans to establish such centres in all District Headquarters Hospitals across the province.He hoped these centers would significantly improve routine immunization rates and assist in controlling epidemics. “Now, parents can get their children vaccinated at any time, day or night,” he added.

In response to a question, the minister said that when he assumed office, polio samples were found positive in 13 districts, but today, thanks to efforts of the department, only three districts remain, and they too will soon be polio-free, Inshallah.

Syed Qasim Ali Shah noted that the province had successfully reduced dengue cases to the lowest levels in history, demonstrating the effectiveness of the health department’s efforts. “By adopting preventive measures, together we can defeat dengue,” he concluded.