Staff Reporter
Provincial for Health Dr. Yasmin Rashid has announced to reactive Punjab Blood Transfusion Authority. Health Minister announced this during her visit to anti-hepatitis free screening test at Mian Munshi Hospital Saturday. She also inquired about the localites who came to the free screening camp for the test about the performance of their medical staff. Dr. Yasmin Rashid while talking to the media said that Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has formally gave approval to the revamping of blood transfusion authority Punjab.
She said that during the three days more than five thousand people benefited from six anti-hepatitis free screening camps. She said that we are thankful to Lab PK for their cooperation with Health Department regarding free anti-hepatitis screening camp. She said that with the cooperation of Lab PK, health department has also provided free medicines to the patients besides screening of hepatitis. Hepatitis C has been diagnosed in 327 people where 29 people have been diagnosed the patient of hepatitis B during three days screening camps.
Free of cost vaccine was also given to more 3800 people who got negative in hepatitis during the screening. Awareness campaign in connection with hepatitis screening is being launched by Punjab Hepatitis Control Program throughout the province. Areas of Punjab are given priority regarding hepatitis screening. We are determined to make Pakistan hepatitis free country.
Hepatitis free Pakistan campaign is on the top in Punjab health strategy. She said revolutionary measures are being taken with WHO for providing safe treatment facilities to the patients of public sector hospitals. Strict instructions have been issued to the MS of the hospital for the safe dumping of hospital’s waste. She said that instructions had been issued to the departments concerned to launch a comprehensive awareness campaign throughout Punjab regarding hepatitis B and C.
Dr Yasmin Rashid asked philanthropists to support the government cause of eradicating fatal disease like hepatitis. The government was taking effective measures to save the lives of mothers and children, she added.
The screening camps were providing free screening facility to diagnose hepatitis B and C in various localities. She said that Punjab Hepatitis Control Programme was providing free-of-cost treatment facilities and medicines to the hepatitis patients throughout the province.
The minister said that a project with Rs 400 million was being launched for safe disposal of government hospitals’ waste. She said that medicines worth Rs 31 billion had been purchased for the public sector hospitals in Punjab. Shortage of ventilators in government hospitals was an open proof of lack of interest in the sector of the outgoing government, she added.
She said that under teh Punjab Hepatitis Control Programme 55,000 barbers had been registered throughout the province.
