On the direction of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Primary & Secondary Health Department has launched a revolutionary step for prevention of diseases under which biometric registration and blood screening of truck drivers and cleaners would be conducted for diagnosis of Hepatitis B,C, AIDS, syphilis and other infectious diseases. The project has been launched from Babu Sabu Truck Adda at Bund Road, here today. Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh. Salman Rafique inaugurated the campaign.
Besides others, Project Director Punjab AIDS Control Programme and Additional Secretary Primary & Secondary Health Dr. Adnan Zafar, officers of the department, President Truck Drivers Association Ch. Zulfiqar and a large number of drivers, cleaners were present in the inaugural ceremony. Kh. Salman Rafique said that truck drivers play a key role to continue the trade and economic activities in the country and they transport goods of millions of rupees from one place to another with honesty and responsibility. Kh. Salman Rafique said that good health of the people attached in this business is essential. He further said that government is promoting the slogan “prevention is better than cure” and the launching of this project is a part of this strategy. Dr. Adnan Zafar informed that the campaign has been started from Lahore at Babu Sabu Truck Adda where a team of Health Department would be available in two shifts. The health team would conduct biometric registration of drivers and cleaners and take blood samples for screening. He said that a data base would be prepared. He revealed that rapid blood test for hepatitis B would be conducted at the spot and if the report comes negative, hepatitis B vaccine would immediately be administered to the concerned person for providing protection from the hepatitis B. Moreover, the remaining tests reports would be received after few days to the department which would be kept confidential and if blood report of any person would come positive, his treatment would also be done free of cost at government expenses. He disclosed that the scope of the project would be expanded to other districts and a target of registration and blood screening of 1.5 lakh people attached to this industry would be completed within a year. Kh. Salman Rafique said that community participation is inevitable to making the programme a success. He appreciated the cooperation provided by the President Truck Drivers Association Ch. Zulfiqar and other office-bearers. Kh. Salman Rafique further said that eradication of lethal diseases is essential to make a healthy society. He said that government spends Rs.15 billion on the prevention of polio including the expenditure of salaries of polio workers. He said that during campaigns polio workers has to face the ill-attitude of some segment of the society. He said that if people adopt culture of vaccination of their children at the vaccination centers, billions of rupees can be saved. He observed that careful driving can prevent hundreds road accidents which can save thousands lives every year.