Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has said that enhancing the coverage of routine immunization up to hundred percent for eradication of vaccine preventable diseases is essential under Extended Programme of Immunization (EPI) to eliminate such diseases. He said that population of Punjab is 51 percent of the total population of the country whereas routine immunization coverage is at present up to 70 percent which is better than the other areas of the country but there is still a need for hard work to secure women and children from diseases.
He stated this while addressing inaugural session of training course for master trainers for EPI supervisors at Punjab Health Development Center (PHDC). Director General Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, Director PHDC Dr.Sohail Saqlain, officers of Special Monitoring Unit (SMU) doctors and nutrition supervisors from different districts were present in the function. This training course will continue till 16 April. Kh. Salman Rafique said that strict monitoring and E-vaccs system has been launched in Punjab to monitor and evaluate the working of vaccinators at district level. Moreover, Chief Minister himself holds meetings every month to review the situation and evaluate the performance of Health Department. Kh. Salman Rafique said that joint efforts of the officers and the officials of the department and a better strategy have resulted in success against the vaccine preventable diseases, however, this achievement is not enough and all the stakeholders of the department will have to work hard with dedication and professional zeal for the success of EPI programme. Kh. Salman Rafique said that by the Grace of Allah and due to the tireless efforts of the vaccinators and better administrative decisions, only four polio cases were reported in Punjab last year. Out of these forth case of polio had migrated from Loralai. DG Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz said that the healthy society can only be created if routine immunization coverage reaches up to hundred percent. He advised the master trainers that after going back to their respective districts, they should not train more vaccinators but also conduct counseling of the vaccinators for promoting a sense of responsibility. Dr. Zahid Pervaiz said that the desire of Chief Minister and the target of the government is only that no child or pregnant woman be left without immunization. Kh. Salman Rafique said that all the officers and officials should discharge their administrative and professional qualities for improving the system and changing the public perception about their working. Kh. Salman Rafique said that he himself and Secretary Health along with DG have paying visits to all the divisions and districts to monitor and evaluate the factual position and a report will be presented to Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. Kh. Salman Rafique disclosed that a proposal is under consideration that if the young doctors would not join duties at BHUs and RHCs, government would relax the age limit of doctors for appointing at BHUs and RHCs on ad-hoc basis to provide opportunities to the elderly doctors for serving their local people. Earlier, Dr. Sohail Saqlain briefed about the training programmes started at PHDC.
