India, China refuse rabies vaccine export to Pakistan, PA told

LAHORE: During the question hour related to the Health department on Monday, Punjab Assembly was told that China and India had refused to export rabies vaccine to Pakistan.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid while responding to the complaints raised by legislators regarding the shortage of rabies vaccine in Punjab hospitals told that this remedy was produced by China and India. She told that India had conveyed to Pakistan that in order to meet the requirement by its own people, it wasn’t possible for it to export this vaccine. Rabies is a disease caused by dog bite and it could lead to the death of the patient.

During the question hour session, Makhdoom Usman Mehmood of PPP also offered 15-acre land to the Health department for setting up of District Headquarters Hospital in Rahimyar Khan.

The PA session was chaired by Deputy Speaker Mir Dost Muhammad Mazari and it couldn’t complete agenda as the House failed to meet the quorum pointed out by Opposition. The session was adjourned for Tuesday (today).

seminar: Under the aegis of Paediatric department of Lahore General Hospital an awareness walk and seminar on polio was held.

Post Graduate Medical Institute Principal Prof Mohammad Tayyab said it was our responsibility to save the new generation from this disease which results in lifetime disability. He said it was obligatory for the social organisations to sensitise people about polio that we could only save ourselves in the early age for which the polio drops were necessary.

The Principal PGMI hailed the holding of seminar and awareness walk at Lahore General Hospital for Polio and expressed hope that this step would leave positive results in this regard.

Prof Agha Shabbir Ali and LGH Medical Superintendent Dr Mahmud Salah-ud-Din said we all should realise the sensitivity of polio and the problems for the affected family as well. They said parents should also come forward and vaccinate their children in time. They said unfortunately Pakistan was still among those countries that might have polio cases.

Doctors, nurses, para medics, students and representatives of social organisations participated. Pamphlets and brochures were also distributed among the participants.

symposium: A three-day scientific symposium will be organised by Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI) which will take place from Feb 26-28 at Lahore General Hospital.

Senior Professors will deliver lectures while experts of medical field will read their research papers during this symposium. A poster exhibition will also be arranged to sensitise public about various diseases.

The first day will be reserved for medical education in which King Edward Medical University VC Prof Khalid Masood Gondal will be the chief guest. On the second day, University of Health Sciences VC Prof Javed Akram will be the chief guest. While on the third day, Punjab Governor Ch Mohammad Sarwar will be the chief guest.

Post Graduate Medical Institute Principal Prof Mohammad Tayyab said as many as 40 pre-workshops will be conducted in different departments before symposium for young doctors.

Prof Agha Shabbir Ali, Prof Muhammad Shahid, faculty members and young doctors attended these workshops and expressed their deep interest.

Prof Tayyab said the symposium would not only update the knowledge of the doctors but also set new traditions of research to find out the solution of medical problems. He said medical science has made significance advancement in modern era and a number of incurable diseases have been overcome. Prof Shabbir said the young doctors should focus on research work as it would enhance their skills.