Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid urged Ulema to come forward and educate people on health during a seminar organized for Ulema from across the province here on Wednesday.
The seminar was organized by the Expanded Program on Immunization Punjab with the help of Unicef and Auqaf Department in connection with upcoming Measles and Rubella Campaign in November. The Health Minister said that no one can communicate with communities better than Ulema.
Director General Health Services Punjab Dr Haroon Jehangir, Chief Field Office Unicef Dr Willbroad, Health Specialist Dr Tahir Manzoor, WHO Technical Officer Dr Nauman Khan, Unicef Consultants Dr. Mushtaq Shad, Director EPI Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Awan and others attended the seminar.
The DG health welcomed the participants and explained purpose of the event, organized in collaboration with Auqaf Department.
Mufti Ramzan Sialvi, Maulana Ahmed Raza Sialvi, Allama Sajjad Hussain, Maulana Abdur Rehman and notable Ulema from all sections joined to support the cause.
In her address, the Health Minister said, “The Measles Rubella campaign in November is the largest ever vaccination campaign for children in history.
In our neighbouring country, the Measles Rubella campaign was conducted in phases whereas we are conducting a nationwide one-go campaign. Measles and Rubella can be dangerous but can be prevented through vaccination.
This campaign is being conducted to safeguard our generations from these two diseases. The campaign shall be held from November 15 to 27 and 46.6 million children from 9 months to 15 years shall be vaccinated.”
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid reviewed dengue situation and status of cleanliness activities in the provincial metropolis in a meeting at Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Wednesday.
The minister reviewed situation of cleanliness and analyzed latest data on dengue. Besides Senator Ijaz Ch, Provincial Ministers – Murad Raas, Mian Mehmoohdur Rasheed and Chaudhry Zaheer spoke on the occasion.
The officials of the two health departments, LWMC, LDA and PHA shared situational updates from their respective departments.
The Health Minister said, “It is extremely important for all stakeholders to sit together. Our health department (s) are working round the clock to control and treat dengue. Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar is personally monitoring the situation in the province.
In order to make Lahore clean, LWMC, LDA and PHA shall have to enhance collaboration and work together.”
Meanwhile, Dr Yasmin Rashid shared the status and progress of development projects in Punjab with the Federal Government through a video link meeting at the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department chaired by Federal Minister Asad Umar on Wednesday.
The Minister was accompanied by Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department Ahmed Javed Qazi where Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Imran Sikander Baloch joined via video link.
The Minister shared progress on Mother and Child Hospitals at Rajanpur, Layyah, Attock, Sialkot and Bahawalnagar, upgradation work at 250-bedded DHQ in Chakwal, DHQ Hafizabad and THQ Jaranwala. The Health Minister apprised Mr. Asad Omar of the latest progress on development and upgradation.
