Amraiz Khan
Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid inaugurated the notification TB App and E-TB app at the “Role of Media in Diagnosis and Prevention of TB at the Committee Room of the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department here on Monday.
Present on the occasion were Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Ms. Sara Aslam, Director General Health Services Punjab Dr. Haroon Jehangir, Project Director TB Control Program Dr. Saeed Akhtar, Dr. Jamshed from WHO and a large number of media personnel.
Project Director TB Control Program Dr. Saeed Akhtar gave briefing to the Health Minister on facilities for registered patients.
Speaking to the Media, the Health Minister said, “I congratulate Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department for organizing a workshop on a very important issue.
The number of new TB infections is rising the world over. Govt of the Punjab is providing free diagnosis and treatment facility to 153,970 patients.
This entire week, awareness for TB control will be held across the province and in the year 2020, the above number was diagnosed.
Screening of over 500,000 people was done. After screening, 10817 children were diagnosed.
Pakistan is on fifth number in 30 countries having high number of TB patients. TB can affect any part of the body.
By timely diagnosis, TB can be controlled in time. Generating awareness is very important for controlling TB in Punjab.
We believe 30 to 40 % people are seeking treatment from private sector.
TB patients face weak immunity issue. All pharmacies have been barred from selling over the counter medicines to TB patients. The availability of reliable data is crucial to controlling the disease.”
The Health Minister said , “Our government has started medicine card for TB patients. The government is spending billions of prevention of communicable diseases.
Media can play important role for control of diseases. I appreciate TB control program for facilitating patients.
The introduction of Notify App and E-TB App for pharmacies is a revolutionary step. The program has imparted training to 1733 doctors and paramedical staff.
The district and provincial program will be notified once case is notified at by practioners and pharmacies.
The TB Control Program is providing free treatment and diagnosis to registered patients at 306 RHCs, 126 DHQs and THQs, 32 jails and 27 TB clinics. I greatly appreciate all international stakeholders especially WHO for providing services to registered patients.
The government is facilitating patients at all centers. According to vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar all families of Punjab will be given Sehat Sahulat cards by the end of 2021.”
Responding to the queries of journalists, the Health Minister said that by 30th June, Sehat cards will be distributed to all population of Sahiwal and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions.
The positive cases are increasing in Punjab day by day. All the decisions of the NCOC will be implemented in letter and spirit.
The process of vaccination of people over 60 years of age are in process. From today onwards, the people of over 65 will be vaccinated without pin codes.
