Yasmin stresses on awareness to check corona spread

LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said here Monday that there was an inverse link between number of vaccinated people and the number of new infections hence everyone must get them vaccinated.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony between the Minister’s Delivery Unit, Health Department and University of Central Punjab, the health minister said that awareness among youths was a key to stopping the spread of COVID-19. She gave away prizes to students for producing outstanding video products, including documentaries and posters on themes of vaccination refusals and reluctance.

Present on the occasion were UCP’s Pro-Rector Dr Nassar Ikram, Dr Faisal Mustafa, Majid Rafique, Professor Javed Chaudhry, Sajjad Hafeez and a number of students. Minister’s Delivery Manager Sajjad Hafeez and UCP Pro-Rector Dr Nassar Ikram signed the MoU to strengthen partnership for research and awareness initiatives between the MDU and the UCP.

The Minister’s Delivery Unit is a knowledge resource unit with focus on research and data analysis and it operates under the direct supervision of the health minister.

The health minister said, “I congratulate the UCP management for vaccinating 80 percent of their students. Students have become ambassadors for vaccination and role model for educational institutions by coming forward and getting themselves vaccinated. The only way to end corona pandemic is to comply with SOPs and get vaccinated. With the blessings of Almighty Allah, the losses due to the pandemic in Pakistan were much less than other countries. Under the leadership of PM Imran Khan, the NCOC has provided excellent leadership during the pandemic. The pandemic was a totally new phenomenon for the world and presented so much for us to learn. The third wave was most dangerous of all and affected a large number of people. My appreciation is for frontline workers. Prevention is always better than cure so we must adopt preventive measures. Our youth is our future. Awareness is a help to fellow humans and Allah helps those who help others. Rumours about vaccination mislead people and every Pakistani must get them vaccinated. The government is providing free vaccination to all. Senior citizens are being vaccinated at their homes.

Speaking further, the minister said, “Some 26 years ago, I started working on Thalassemia awareness and today we are working dedicatedly on it. For every good work, there has to be a start. Pakistan has introduced pre-marriage Thalassemia test. By use of mask we can prevent spread of corona by 80 percent. We have to give a strong message to the world by getting ourselves vaccinated. The UCP has set an example by getting vaccinated their 13,000 children and I am greatly thankful to the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department for this. T