Staff Reporter
Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid on Thursday said that all stakeholders will have to put extra efforts to achieve the targets of population control in the country.
In a meeting with a delegation of the World Bank, the Health Minister said that Health Department is key stakeholder in the family planning initiative.
Country Director World Bank Najy Benhassine, Operations Manager, Program Leader Ubaid al Razzaq, and Senior Operations Manager Amna Raja were part of the team.
The Health Minister discussed with the visiting delegation family planning, Universal Health Coverage and situation of the Corona Pandemic.
The minister shared details of measures taken to improve primary and secondary healthcare services. The visiting delegation appreciated the efforts of the Health Minister and assured all out support.
The Health Minister said, “Health Department has pivotal role in family planning and all stakeholders will have to go extra mile to achieve the targets.
The government has taken some key steps to improve mother and child health indicators in the province. Pakistan loses thousands of women and children during birth related complications.
The government is developing seven state-of-the-art mother and child hospitals in the province. We are battling the Corona Pandemic with all full commitment.
Corona SOPs are being enforced in letter and spirit. So far more than 39 million have been vaccinated in the province.
By 31st December, Universal Health Coverage services shall begin for entire population of the province. The health cards are being distributed to entire population.
Patients can get health insurance coverage of Rs. 720,000. Rs. 100 billion have been reserved in the budget for the initiative on directions from Prime Minister Imran Khan.”
Country Director World Bank Mr. Najy Benhassine said he greatly admired the services rendered by Dr. Yasmin Rashid and assured all out support for the Govt of the Punjab.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid said that Anti-Polio Program is part of the larger Expanded Program on Immunization and efforts are underway to eradicate Polio from the province.
In a meeting with a delegation of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in her office, the Health Minister said that special focus was being laid on birth registration.
Present in the meeting were Additional Secretary Coordination Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Ms. Sundas Irshad, Technical Focal Person BMGF Dr. Naeedm Majeed and Dr. Zeina Ali Siam.
The Health Minister said, “The government is utilizing all resources to eradicate Polio. As per vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, we are endeavoring to make Punjab Polio free.
A central data repository has been developed to register Polio vaccination record of children. Overall 90% immunization coverage has been achieved in the province. We will try our best to achieve 100 coverage during Polio NID.”
