Amraiz Khan
Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid signed an agreement to convert all Basic Health Units to solar energy with Dr. Akhtar Malik at the Punjab Power Development Board Mega Tower here on Wednesday. Present on the occasion were officials of the Energy Department. Health Minister said, “It is a historic milestone for us. I am thankful to Dr. Akhtar Malik for this historic development. Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar want to see a clean and green Pakistan. Phase-wise, Punjab’s all 2500 Basic Health Units shall be converted to solar energy. Conversion of all BHUS to solar energy will save the nation 480 million. In the first phase, all BHUs of Jehlum, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Faisalabad will be converted to solar power. The saved amount by this conversion shall be used for improvement of healthcare services. This will be a revolutionary step towards a clean and green Pakistan.”
Later, talking to journalists, the Health Minister said that frontline workers shall be vaccinated on priority basis. She said there will be no shortage of vaccine in Pakistan in future. All Chief Ministers have ordered vaccination of frontline workers in their respective provinces. Seeking permission of people before vaccination is part of professional ethics. So far, only mild side effects like headache or light fever have been reported in trials of vaccine. In the next four to five months, vaccine for over 100 million people will be available in Punjab. Minister for Energy Dr. AKhtar Malik said he was grateful to Dr. Yasmin Rashid for a great event and added that by July 2021 all BHUS shall be converted to Solar Energy.
Punjab begins vaccination of frontline workers Punjab formally started vaccination of frontline workers serving in Corona wards under the supervision of Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid at Mayo Hospital here on Wednesday.
Present on the occasion were vice chancellor King Edward Medical University Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal, Pro vice chancellor and CEO Mayo Hospital Dr. Asad Aslam Khan, Medical Superintendent Mayo Hospital Dr. Zahid and a large number of doctors. The first worker was vaccinated in the presence of the Health Minister in the OPD of Mayo Hospital.
In her talk with the media, the Health Minister said, “I admire the administration and staff of Mayo hospital for providing excellent treatment to COVID-19 patients. We salute our frontline workers who lost their lives fighting COVID-19 pandemic during first and second wave. We have to battle this pandemic bravely. The doctors, nurses and paramedical staff serving COVID-19 patients deserve to be greatly honored. The frontline workers treating Corona patients are our first priority. China’s Sinopharm donated the first consignment of 500,000 dozes to Pakistan. We are grateful to Chinese government for their great support. They have always helped us in times of trial.
Elaborating further, Dr. Yasmin Rashid said, “Punjab has received 70,000 dozes of vaccine today. The Specialized Healthcare Department has shall be given 27,625, Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department shall be given 32,000, private hospitals will be given 7,200, drivers of emergency services will get 650 and lab staff will get 1800 dozes. Covex has pledged to give us 17 million dozes We hope to get more vaccine from Consignia in around two to two-and-a-half month. Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr. Faisal Sultan has assured us that in the next five months vaccine for over 100 million people will be available in Punjab. The Government has reserved adequate amount for Corona vaccine. In the next 15 days, frontline workers of Teaching Hospitals and DHQs shall be given vaccination. We have arranged ice-lined refrigerators in all districts for safe storage of the vaccine. The vaccine shall be administered according to available data.”
