Anti-polio campaign in 8 districts from 15th

LAHORE

AdvisEr to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that polio campaign in eight districts of Punjab, deemed to be at greater risk to polio virus transmission, will be held from February 15 to 17.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said that the campaign was part of the Sub National Immunization Day and would target selected eight districts including Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur (Tehsil Ahmed Pur East). He added directives had been issued to these districts to complete the necessary arrangements. 

Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Ali Jan Khan said the campaign would target 5,808,387 children of below five years of age in 839 Union Councils (UCs) of these districts. He said Polio had been declared a national emergency and at district level, respective DCOs were taking complete ownership of polio eradication efforts.

Director General Health Services Punjab Dr Mukhtar Hussain Syed said a total of 15,121 teams would perform their duties in the campaign which include 13,030 mobile teams, 1,290 fixed and 801 transit teams. 

The DG Health further said the southern districts were being especially focused as part of larger central Pakistan strategy and coordination with districts of other provinces sharing border with Punjab was made for integrated efforts.

Director EPI Dr Munir Ahmed requested parents to ensure their children get polio drops. He said parents may also take their children to fixed EPI center where staff is available to vaccinate for nine vaccine preventable diseases as well. He said in case of teams not visiting the area, parents can contact the helpline 0800 99000 during campaign days.

Punjab has largely been able to interrupt polio virus transmission from high risk areas and reported two cases out of 54 in the country in 2015. 

LGH: Secretary Specialised Health and Medical Education Najam Ahmed Shah paid a surprise visit to Lahore General Hospital (LGH) on Friday. 

According to a handout, besides inquiring from the patients and their attendants about the treatment facilities in the emergency and indoor, he reviewed security system and different ongoing development works of the hospital. He appreciated the steps taken by Principal PGMI Prof Dr Khalid Mehmood and his team.

The secretary reviewed “Parchi” system for admission of patients to the hospital and also asked from the patients and their attendants about treatment facilities in emergency. He also visited Punjab Institute of Neuro Sciences Phase-III. 

Prof Khalid Mehmood said at present, 40-bed, two operation theatres and ICU were functional on the ground floor while its second phase would also be functional within next two months. He said 60 more beds would be included in this phase. He said an amount of Rs 386 million more had been demanded from the Punjab government so that MRI and digital x-ray could also be timely installed at Punjab Institute of Neuro Sciences.