Minister for setting up bird flu counters

LAHORE

Punjab Minister for Primary & Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir has directed for immediately installing H1N1 influenza counters in all DHQ and THQ hospitals of the province to guide patients of seasonal influenza. 

He directed that guidelines already circulated by the department to the hospitals should be circulated to all healthcare providers including private general practitioners.

He stated this while chairing a meeting to review the situation of seasonal influenza, Congo and dengue in Punjab and steps taken for the control of the diseases at Primary & Secondary Health Department, according to a handout issued on Thursday. Besides Secretary Health Ali Jan Khan, Director General Health Dr Faisal Zahoor, Additional Secretary Technical Dr Asim Altaf, Additional Secretary Vertical Programmes Dr Sadain Khalid, Deputy Secretary Technical Dr Yadullah, Programme Manager Mother & Child Health Department Dr Mukhtar Hussain Syed and other officers concerned attended the meeting.

The meeting reviewed the situation after occurrence of a case of H1N1 seasonal influenza in Lahore. Kh Imran Nazir directed that a mass awareness campaign to be launched in local media (print & electronic) apart from provincial campaign by DG HS.

The minister directed that banners regarding awareness messages of seasonal influenza to be placed at prominent places of all hospitals. He directed that H1N1 influenza shall be put at top agenda in next conference of medical superintendents.