4,000 LHWs, doctors being hired

LAHORE
ADVISER on Heath Khawaja Salman Rafiq has said that special attention is being paid to control Vaccine Preventive Diseases (VPD) for which routine immunisation under the EPI programme is being strengthened. He said the implementation on Chief Minister Health Roadmap had been started to improve the primary and secondary healthcare in Punjab.
He stated this while talking to a high level 25-member delegation of the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation (GAVI) from Geneva at the Civil Secretariat, according to a handout issued on Thursday. The delegation was led by CEO GAVI Dr. Seth Barklay had called on Adviser on Health and other senior officers of the Punjab government. Besides, Additional Chief Secretary Syed Mubashar Raza, Secretary Health Jawwad Rafiq Malik, Parliamentary Secretary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir, Special Secretary Finance Ahmad Raza Sarwar, DG Health Punjab Dr. Zahid Pervaiz and representatives of international development partners were also present.
Secretary Health Jawad Rafiq Malik apprised the GAVI delegation regarding measures taken by the health department for the improvement of routine immunisation and strengthening of the EPI system to prevent infants, children and pregnant women against diseases, creation of new vacancies of vaccinators, e-monitoring of vaccinators through android phones, vaccine tracking system, training of lady health workers, foolproof micro planning of routine immunisation and polio campaigns and third-party evaluation of the working of BHUs, RHCs and immunisation.
Jawwad Rafiq Malik informed the media that the Lady Health Workers had performed a very successful role in the prevention of diseases and improvement of mother and child health programme so 4,000 lady health community workers were being recruited for urban slums for promoting the healthy activities. He said that Vaccine Logistic Management Information System (VLMIS) was also being extended to remaining 23 districts.
While talking to CEO of GAVI, Kh. Salman Rafiq said that two warehouses in collaboration with the UNICEF were being established in Lahore and Multan for stocking vaccines whereas the Chinese government had also provided 36 refrigeration carriers for the transportation of the vaccine. Moreover, implementation on CM Health Roadmap programme has already been started for the improvement of primary and secondary healthcare system, he added.
He said the vacant posts of doctors were being filled at the BHUs and RHCs in addition to ensure 100 percent availability of medicines at these health centres. He said that strong monitoring system had been evolved and 172 evaluation and monitoring assistants had been posted to all the districts while specialist doctors were being deputed at the DHQ and THQ hospitals for this purpose. Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has approved a special incentive package for specialist doctors.