‘Information management system being utilised for women, newborns’

LAHORE

Punjab Primary and Secondary Health  Secretary Ali Jan Khan has said that to improve the health of child and mother and controlling the mortality rate of pregnant women and newborns, information management system is being utilised for the messages based on guidance regarding neonatal and postnatal care and food.

“Lady Health Workers are rendering their services efficiently in this regard. Portable ultrasound machines are also being provided in basic health centres," he said during a briefing based on the study regarding health and death rate of mother and child in district Chakwal of Punjab and district Sawabi of KP by Georgia University, America, Prof Dr Musharaf Rasool Sayan, according to a handout issued here on Tuesday. 

Provincial Director of IRMNCH Dr Mukhtar Hussain Syed, Director Mother and Child Programme Dr Akhter Rashid Malik and other officers were present.

Prof Dr Musharaf Rasool Sayan had pointed out weaknesses and flaws emerging out during pilot project of mother and child health study in the two districts. He said that encouraging results could be obtained by providing continuous awareness to the women regarding precautionary measures, cleanliness, hygiene, and use of proper food, skilled birth attendants, lady health visitors and lady doctors during pregnancy. He said that pregnant women were informed through Robo Calls and SMS under a system in both districts during a pilot project which helped in data collection and women were motivated for delivery at government hospitals and health centres. He said that use of affordable technology would prove to be very encouraging for creating awareness among women for the protection of lives of pregnant women and newborns.

Secretary Ali Jan Khan said that ambulance call centres had started work for referring pregnant women to 24/7 basic centres in Punjab.

P&D Member Health Dr Shabana Haider said that a nutrition programme had also been started for meeting shortage of nutrition among women and children in 11 districts of Punjab. She said that information management system could prove to be very useful for pregnant women.

Health Secretary Ali Jan emphasised on further simplifying the system for its easy implementation. He said that by implementing the system, lives of thousands of children and pregnant women could be saved.

Symposium: Member Board of Management, Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI)/Commissioner Overseas Pakistanis Commission (OPC), Punjab, Afzaal Bhatti has said that PGMI has a distinguished status as well as a unique seat of quality learning in the field of medical research and training.

He was speaking on the inaugural session of 7th Annual Scientific Symposium 2017, held at Lahore General Hospital, according to a handout issued here on Tuesday. Principal PGMI and Ameer-ud-Din Medical College Prof Dr Ghias-un-Nabi Tayyab, Chairman organising committee Dr Agha Shabbir Ali, faculty members, senior doctor and medical students were also present on this occasion. Afzaal Bhatti, while congratulating the organisers to arrange such an informative event, said the symposium would help to groom junior doctors to become better clinicians in future. He said this is the era of performance, persons or institutions showing performance will be acknowledged. PGMI has got tremendous potential to perform and deliver excellent services.

He informed that the Punjab government is pursuing a vigorous policy to improve the health facilities in the province and billions of rupees are being spent to provide the state-of-the-art health services to general public. Principal PGMI and Ameer-ud-Din Medical College Prof Dr Ghias-un-Nabi Tayyab, while addressing the ceremony, said PGMI is the mother of most medical research related institutions of the country and has produced a large number of renowned specialists. Later on, Afzaal Bhatti accompanied by Prof Dr Ghias-un-Nabi Tayyab, Prof Dr Agha Shabbir Ali and others took a round of a poster exhibition arranged by medical students.