PPHA to strengthen public health system: minister

LAHORE

Punjab Minister for Specialised Healthcare & Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that newly-established Punjab Public Health Agency (PPHA) will play a pivotal role in strengthening of public health system, forecast and early disease warning system, disease surveillance and data depositing and taking preventive measures against the diseases.

“The Punjab government is working to achieve these targets for the last one and a half years,” he said this while addressing the consultative seminar on policy and design of PPHA at a local hotel on Wednesday, according to a handout issued here.

Besides, Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Kh Imran Nazir, Secretary Specialised Healthcare & Medical Education Najam Ahmed Shah, Secretary Primary and Secondary Health Ali Jan Khan, Turkish experts team headed by Dr Hassan Kagil, Dr Naeem-ud-Din Mian, member P&D Dr Shabana Haider, Chief Executive PPHA Dr Shabnam, principals of medical colleges, professors, public health experts, DG Nursing and a large number of doctors attended the seminar.

Kh Salman Rafique said the objective of establishing PPHA is to create a very high profile and modern institution which not only strengthen the public health sector but also alert the government departments before the outbreak of epidemics and seasonal diseases and provide a guideline for their effective control.

He said this was the vision of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif according to which the PPHA has been established for making and early disease warning system, disease data depositing, public awareness and social mobilisation in a comprehensive and consolidated manner. He said that besides legislation, a strong commitment is required to face the challenges.

Secretary Specialised Healthcare Najam Ahmed Shah said that the basic objective of holding the consultative seminar is to get feedback of experts and professionals regarding Punjab Public Health Agency. He said that introduction and coordination is essential for taking decisions in a transparent manner. Secretary Primary and Secondary Health Ali Jan Khan was of the view that PPHA would be very effective to boost up the prevention and disease control programme and strengthening of public health system for establishing a healthy society. Dr Naeem-ud-Din Mian said that coordination between public and private sector is very important for a robust public health system for which training orientation and data depositing will play a vital role.

Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Kh Imran Nazir said that instead of throwing all the responsibilities on government shoulders, it is also the responsibility of the society to fulfill its responsibilities. He said that creating healthy society is a collective responsibility of government and private sector through which the societies always flourish. He was of the view that society and parents are not playing their role whether it is a matter of polio vaccination or dengue control activities. He said the government alone cannot resolve all the issues and for this purpose, collective efforts are required. The Chief Executive of PPHA Dr. Shabnam and Turkish public health experts Dr Hassan Kagil also addressed the seminar.