Amraiz Khan
Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said here on Thursday that in a changing world One Health vision will have to be adopted which recognizes that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals, plants and the shared environment.
Speaking as chief guest at an awareness seminar on One Health organized by the Policy and Strategic Planning Unit, Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department and USAID, the Health Minister said One Health has been made an essential component of the Punjab Health Sector Strategy 2019-29.
The Health Minister said, “The One Health Project is being launched in Punjab as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan. I greatly appreciate the team of the PSPU for arranging this seminar.
The purpose of the seminar is to generate awareness and highlight its significance in an ever-changing world. Evolution of One Health as an integrated theme is an important milestone.
We will request Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar to constitute a Task Force on the theme of One Health. Without the support of all stakeholders, the project of One Health cannot be made successful.
Letter to the British government by Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr. Faisal Sultan to remove Pakistan name from Corona Red List is a great step. Punjab faces a number of Rabies related deaths every year.
Rabies vaccine is available in adequate numbers at DHQ and RHCs. We will have to focus on animal health and the environment. The integrated concept of human health, animals and environment has been with us for ages.
Punjab also reports a large number of water borne diseases. Humans are greatly affected by their environment. A large number of diseases are linked to environmental pollution.
A number of steps are being taken for dengue control. Industrial pollution is affecting human lives. After the setting up of task Force by the Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, all institutions will work together.
Since we took over, our special focus has been on prevention of disease and we plan to save hundreds of thousands of children from many diseases through preventive interventions. The role of NCOC is pivotal for control of Covid-19 and vaccination of the maximum population.”
Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Sarah Aslam said that One Health is a huge project to safeguard human lives in Punjab and the project will be made successful with joint efforts of all institutions.
Secretary Health South Punjab Mohammad Ajmal Bhatti said that efforts are underway to make One Health a success through a task Force.
He Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Medical University Professor Amir Zaman Khan assured all out support from the University to make One Health a success.