Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr Irshad Ahmad have said that international standards of global health security would be achieved through bridging gaps and all-out efforts would be made in this regard.
Health department would upgrade the capacity building of its staff under International Health Regulations-2005. All commitments made under IRH-2005 would be implemented in true letter and spirit. Secretary health Dr Irshad Ahmad disclosed this while chairing a high level meeting of global health emergency response and international standards of public health here today which was attended amongst others by Health Advisor Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Dr Safi Malik, DG Health MoNHSR&C Dr Shabana Saleem, Director NIH Dr Salman, provincial advisor UKHSA Dr Saeed Akhtar and WHO provincial chief Dr Jamshed Ahmad, besides DG HS Dr Ilyas Gondal, Additional Secretary Vertical Programs Saba Adil and Director CDC Dr Amir Mufti.
DGHS MoNHS Dr Shabana Saleem apprised of measures to be taken by Punjab government for health security under IRH-2005. The meeting also discussed to upgrade capacity building of the health department for global health security and joint external evaluation mechanism.
Dr Irshad Ahmad said that department in collaboration with UK health security agency is undertaking extensive training of its staff on disease surveillance and response since Dec 2022.
All desired results will be achieved with collective efforts of all vertical programs, he added. Dr Irshad Ahmad maintained that Punjab has excelled in prevention of epidemics and pandemics. He held out assurance to WHO, UKHSA, MoNHSR and NIH to fulfill its commitments and extended gratitude for their extensive cooperation in health sector.
