We Must Secure a Corona Free Future for Children: Health Minister

23/02/21

Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid said here on Tuesday that Punjab had fought the battle against the Corona Pandemic very effectively. The Health Minister was speaking as chief guest at an awareness seminar “Safe Campuses, Role of Stakeholders in Students Health Safety” organized with Unicef support at a local hotel. Present on the occasion were Higher Education Minister Raja Yasir Hamayun, Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Captain (Retd) Usman Younis, Director General Health Services Punjab Dr. Haroon Jehangir, Secretary School Education Sara Aslam, Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Professor Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal, Vice Chancellor Govt. College University Professor Dr. Asghar Zaidi, religious scholars, professors, doctors and a large number of government servants. Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Captain (Retd) Usman Younis in his opening speech apprised the participants of the purpose and objectives of the event. Dr. Yasmin Rashid said, “The Punjab government has handled this pandemic very effectively under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar. “Govt of the Punjab has spent over Rs. 14 billion on the Corona Pandemic. Punjab set up 19 BSL3 Labs in Punjab. Only a day earlier, the Cabinet decided to set up another four BSL-3 Labs. Diagnosis facility is central to fighting a Pandemic. Punjab is providing free treatment to COVID-19 patients. Although we have lost many precious lives, yet the overall the mortality rate in Punjab remained much less as compared to other parts of the world”, she added. Vaccine for 15 million population will soon be arrived with support of Covex. The purpose of today’s seminars is to save our children from Pandemic. Parents are sending children to schools after having full faith on the school administration. Health and Education departments are working jointly to save children from COVID-19. Majority of Pakistan’s population comprises youth.”  The Health Minister further said, “It is responsibility of the school administrations to make the campuses safe. The Health department is ready to provide all-out support to the School Education Department”. Teachers must ensure that children wear masks and wash their hands regularly. By following the SOPs in letter and spirit we can stop transmission by up to 90 per cent. In Punjab public sector hospitals, a lot of patients are recovering on daily basis. Minister for Higher Education Raja Yasir Hamayun said that the hard work of the health department enabled Punjab to reopen schools and all SOPs are being strictly implemented.