‘Thalassemia testing facilities being increased across Punjab’

LAHORE:An important meeting was held at the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company under the chairmanship of Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique.

Additional Secretary Technical Department Specialised Health Care and Medical Education Dr Muhammad Waseem, Deputy Secretary Technical Dr Abdul Rehman, DG Thalassemia Prevention Programme Dr Yasmin Ehsan and Head Institute of Blood Transfusion Services Professor Shabnam Bashir attended.

Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique reviewed the licencing of blood banks under the Punjab Thalassemia Prevention Programme and Institute of Blood Transfusion Authority during the meeting. The officers concerned also briefed the minister in this regard.

Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said on this occasion that strict action would be taken against illegal blood banks across the province. The use of clean blood during treatment is the fundamental right of every patient. Career screening for thalassemia before marriage has become very important. The Punjab government is increasing thalassemia testing facilities across the province. Inclusion of awareness material related to thalassemia in the curriculum has become very important. Prevention and screening can control thalassemia. Cleanliness of blood banks in government hospitals should be ensured.

Minister lauds IPH role in prevention of dangerous diseases

Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique attended the oath-taking ceremony of the first semester students of BS Honors Medical Laboratory Technology at the Institute of Public Health as the chief guest Monday.

On this occasion, Parliamentary Secretary Rushda Lodhi, Dean IPH Prof Saira Afzal, Prof Majeed Chaudhry, Prof Shakeela Zaman, Dr Zubair from the World Health Organisation, faculty members and students who took the oath were present.

Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, Parliamentary Secretary Rushda Lodhi and Prof Majeed Chaudhry administered the oath of service to humanity to the first semester students. Dean IPH Prof Saira Afzal also gave a presentation based on the outstanding achievements of the institution before the oath-taking. The minister, while expressing his views, said that he welcomes all the first semester students to the Institute of Public Health. According to the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, he wants to see this institution successful. The Punjab government has taken significant steps to improve the health system. The credit for Asia’s largest Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research in Lahore goes to CM Maryam Nawaz. The credit for the Nawaz Sharif Institutes of Cardiology in Lahore and Sargodha also goes to Maryam Nawaz. I have been associated with IPH for the past 15 years in terms of research to treat various diseases. The arrival of international faculty in this institution is very welcome. I was happy to hear the praise of Punjab’s health system from surgeons who came from the UK to perform cardiac surgery on children. We want to establish institutions like IPH throughout Punjab. This institution plays a key role in the prevention and treatment of dangerous diseases. He said that under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab’s first rehab centre was built in Muzaffargarh. Finally, the minister distributed commemorative shields among the guests and laptops among the faculty members.