Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid met a delegation of World Bank at Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department here on Tuesday. Present in the meeting were Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Imran Sikandar Baloch, Special Secretaries Dr. Asif Tufail and Dr. Farrukh Naveed, DG Health Services Dr. Haroon Jahangir and Dr. Naeem Majeed. The World Bank delegation comprised Manu Bhattarai, Bushra Alam and Shaza Khan. The Health Minister and World Bank delegation discussed way forward for family planning initiatives in Punjab. During the meeting, Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Imran Sikandar Baloch shared the measures taken by the department on family planning. The World Bank delegation appreciated the efforts of the PSH Department on family planning. The Health Minister said, “We are taking important steps on family planning in the province. The Punjab Human Capital Investment Project is being launched in the province. Under the PHCIP, mothers in 11 districts will be given Rs.1000 on pre and post natal visits at approved government facilities. The development of a country depends on its population. Counseling mothers reaching for deliveries at government hospitals is very important. Birth spacing is very important for health of mother and child. The government is incentivizing doctors to provide counselling to mothers for for deliveries in public sector hospitals. Ten state-of-the-art mother and child hospitals are being set up in Punjab to ensure mother and child health. Rethinking of priorities is crucial for successful family planning. We are striving to provide best quality services in Punjab as per vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.” The World Bank delegation assured full support for family planning initiative in Punjab. They appreciated the efforts of Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department for family planning in Punjab and added that the PHCIP shall be extremely useful to achieve development goals.
