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Thursday February 06, 2025

Anti-polio drive kicks off

By Our Correspondent
February 04, 2025
Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique (centre) administers polio vaccine drops to a child to inaugurate the first seven-day national polio eradication campaign of 2025 at Government Mozang Teaching Hospital on February 3, 2025. — Screengrab via Facebook@SalmanRafiquePK
Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique (centre) administers polio vaccine drops to a child to inaugurate the first seven-day national polio eradication campaign of 2025 at Government Mozang Teaching Hospital on February 3, 2025. — Screengrab via Facebook@SalmanRafiquePK

LAHORE:Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique inaugurated the first seven-day national polio eradication campaign of 2025 at Government Mozang Teaching Hospital, here.

On this occasion, Chief Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Uzma Kardar, Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Nadia Saqib, MS Mazang Teaching Hospital Dr Misbah Liaquat and polio workers participated.

Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, Uzma Kardar and Secretary Health Nadia Saqib administered polio vaccines to innocent children. Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, in his address to the participants of the polio eradication campaign, said that teams will be administering vaccines door to door during the polio eradication campaign. Polio teams have been advised to knock on every door. Guests, newborn sick children will also be vaccinated against polio. Khawaja Salman said that 23.3 million children would be vaccinated during the campaign. More than 200,000 polio workers will perform duty during the campaign. Special attention will be paid to priority populations during the campaign. The minister said that the campaign was being organised in all districts of Punjab. During the anti-polio campaign, vaccines will also be administered at checkpoints. The campaign will be helpful in preventing the spread of the virus.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said that polio eradication is the top priority of the government and the health department.

Provincial Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Nadia Saqib said that efforts would be made to cover all children during the campaign. Focal person Uzma Kardar said that teams were formed to monitor the polio campaign. Parents should fully cooperate with the polio teams.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz wants to bring improvement in capacity of cardiac hospitals across the province.

The minister was speaking at a meeting held in Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department regarding Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology Sargodha and Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research Lahore, here on Monday. ‘We will make the cardiac programme of the CM successful. The shortage of HR in cardiac hospitals is also being met on a priority basis. Various suggestions from experts are also being reviewed to provide modern treatment and care facilities to patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases,’ the minister said.

Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said work is underway rapidly on the first phase of Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research, consisting of 615 beds. This cancer care hospital will be a unique hospital of its kind, he added.

The meeting was attended by Punjab Health Secretary Azmat Mahmood, Special Secretaries Zeeshan Shabbir Rana and Tariq Mahmood Rahmani, Additional Secretary Technical Dr Muhammad Waseem and Chief Planning Officer Abdul Haq Bhatti.

The meeting was attended by Chairman Board of Directors PIC Dr Farqad Alamgir, Vice Chancellor University of Child Health Sciences Prof Masood Sadiq, Health Adviser Dr Azhar Mahmood Kiani and Professor Zubair Akram. During the meeting, a detailed review of HR and other issues was conducted for Cardiology Sargodha and Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research Lahore and Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology Sargodha. Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Professor Mahmood Ayaz gave a briefing regarding Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer.