WHO GIVES AWAY FOUR COLD CHAIN VEHICLES TO PUNJAB PUNJAB PERFORMED EXCELLENTLY IN CORONA VACCINATION, SAYS WHO

WHO GIVES AWAY FOUR COLD CHAIN VEHICLES TO PUNJAB

PUNJAB PERFORMED EXCELLENTLY IN CORONA VACCINATION, SAYS WHO

HEALTH MINISTER SAYS COLD CHAIN PIVOTAL FOR EFFECTIVE IMMUNIZATION OUTCOMES

Lahore, March 07: Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid received four new cold chain vehicles for vaccine transportation from the World Health Organization at the Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department here on Monday.

WHO World Representative in Pakistan Dr. Palitha Mahipala Gunarathna handed over these four cold chain vehicles to the Health Minister in a formal ceremony. Present on the occasion were Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Imran Sikandar Baloch, Additional Secretary Vertical Programs Maria Tariq, Director EPI Dr. Mukhtar Awan, WHO Head of Office Punjab Dr. Jamshaid Ahmed, Dr. Imran Qureshi, Maryam Younis and Dr. Abidi from WHO, Prof. Javed Chaudhry and other officials.

Collaboration on technical areas were discussed between the Health Minister and WHO World Representative.

Dr. Palitha Mahipala Gunarathna congratulated the Health Minister on a successful Corona vaccination campaign in Punjab. Dr. Palitha acknowledged Govt of Pakistan for introducing Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Card to the people of Punjab as well.

The Health Minister said, “The World Health Organization has always supported us in improving healthcare services to people. For effective immunization outcomes, it is extremely important that vaccines meet safety and quality standards and are potent. The risk of interruption in cold chain is highest during transportation. We are grateful to the WHO for these four cold chain vehicles that will be used for vaccine transportation. In addition to these four new Cold Chain vehicles, the WHO has also upgraded existing 9 cold chain vehicles with latest equipment. By the beginning of the Corona Pandemic, the WHO had provided us PCR machines for testing. We are also moving to provision of Essential Health Services package for primary level facilities with the support of the WHO. We are setting up Punjab Digital Health Authority to bring all health data under one platform. Collection and analysis of data is extremely important for proper planning.”

WHO World representative Dr. Palitha Mahipala said the WHO appreciated Pakistan’s response to Corona Pandemic. He said Pakistan successfully controlled the Pandemic with effective strategies. He assured all out support setting up CDC program on the lines of CDC Atlanta and assured support for Thalassemia Program. He said the WHO was already working in close collaboration with the government on technical training and capacity building. Dr. Palitha Mahipala further said that the vaccination of over 100 million people in Pakistan against against Corona was a great success. He said the WHO will provide technical support for development of indigenous measles testing capacity in Punjab. The WHO WR also said that healthcare workers rendering outstanding services during a corona pandemic shall be acknowledged and honoured by WHO.

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No.654 /Hammad Raza /Mujahid

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NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON DENGUE CONTROL AND RESPONSE

LEARNING GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES KEY TO CONTROLLING CORONA AND DENGUE: HEALTH MINISTER

LAHORE, March 07: Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid said here on Monday that long term strategies for controlling Corona and Dengue will have to be devised as these diseases are likely to stay with human societies for years to come.

Speaking at the National Workshop on Dengue Control and Response at a local hotel, the Health Minister said that learning best experiences from around the world was key to developing effective response against dengue.

Present at the conference were World Representative WHO Pakistan Dr. Palitha Mahipala Gunarathna, Director General Health Services Punjab Dr. Haroon Jahangir, Additional Secretary Vertical Programs Maria Tariq, Director EPI Dr. Mukhtar Awan, WHO Head of Office Punjab Dr. Jamshed, Dr. Naeem Majeed and Dr. Somia Iqtidar, and other officials attended.

DG Health Services Dr. Haroon Jahangir in his welcome address thanked all the guests for coming. WHO World Representative Dr. Palitha Mahipala in his technical presentation discussed serotypes, causes, virus types and global strategies to control dengue outbreak. The workshop started with recitation of Holy Quran and National anthem.

The Health Minister said, “I congratulate organizers for holding an excellent and informative workshop on Dengue prevention. Punjab has taken a number of key steps to control dengue. It is extremely important that all stakeholders have come together and are sharing experiences for a nationwide response. The world appreciates Pakistan’s strategies against Corona Pandemic. Initially some people laughed off our smart lockdown strategies. But Prime Minister Imran Khan always opposed complete lockdowns in the public interest and it later turned out they were extremely effective. Punjab conducted the largest Corona vaccination campaign. The credit for vaccination of more than 100 million people in Pakistan goes to Prime Minister Imran Khan. At least 140 million people have received one dose of corona vaccine in the country. Successful vaccination campaign is being conducted in Punjab. More than 73% of the population of Punjab has been fully vaccinated. More than 91% of the population in Punjab has been administered at least one dose of corona vaccine. Not many countries in the world have battled Corona Pandemic the way Pakistan did. I congratulate the Expanded Program on Immunization achieving 91 % immunization coverage in Punjab.”

The Health Minister further said, “Timely response against epidemics can save lives. Good anticipation and proactive response are being taken against spread of Corona and dengue cases. All stakeholders must work together to control dengue. Corona and dengue can be controlled only through an integrated and smartly devised response. The whole world, including Pakistan, learned lessons from the Corona Pandemic. The positivity ratio for corona cases have dropped to less than 2 per cent. We must learn to live with Corona and dengue and plan accordingly. In today’s workshop, experts must develop an integrated response strategy against dengue. The recommendations of experts in today’s workshop will implemented. The Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Cards will be distributed to all population of Punjab by March 31. Ten Mother and Child Hospitals are being built in Punjab.”

World Representative WHO Dr. Palitha Mahipala acknowledged the performance of Punjab under Dr. Yasmin Rashid. He said experts must develop a strategy and ensure implementation on it to control both Corona and Dengue.

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No.655 /Hammad Raza /Mujahid

HANDOUT (A)

PUNJAB TO INTRODUCE TOUGHER LAW ON ILLEGAL ORGAN TRANSPLANT

LAHORE, March 07: Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid said here on Monday that stricter action on illegal human organ transplantation is under consideration and a helpline will be set up to facilitate patients.

The Health Minister chaired the 18th meeting of the Monitoring Authority of the Punjab Human Organ Transplantation Authority at the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department. Present in the meeting were Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi, Special Secretary Dr. Asif Tufail, Additional Secretary Technical Dr. Hafiz Shahid, Dean Pakistan Kidney and Liver Transplantation Prof. Dr. Faisal Dar, Director General Punjab Human Organ Transplantation Authority Prof. Dr. Asad Aslam Khan and other members. The meeting approved the budget estimates for the financial year 2021-22 and the revised budget for the financial year 2020-21.

During the meeting, approval was granted for setting up of helpline of Punjab Human Organ Transplantation Authority. Approval was given to for awareness seminars during the meeting. The chair also approved development of a registry of donors who donate their organs.

The Health Minister said, “The Punjab Human Organ Transplantation Authority has been directed to take stern legal action against those involved in the illegal trade of human organs across the province. According to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Punjab Human Organ Transplantation Authority will be made beneficial for the people of Punjab. Data collection and its analysis is crucial for the success of Punjab Human Organ Transplantation Authority. All stakeholders will be invited to the awareness seminar of Punjab Human Organ Transplantation Authority. A three member committee has been formed for the reform of the PHOTA. Internal and external audit of PHOTA is being carried out. We are taking measures for stricter laws on illegal transplants of human organs.”