PHOTO: AFP
He was speaking at a meeting held to review arrangements for prevention of a swine flu outbreak. Sharif asked the Health Department to launch a campaign to raise awareness about the disease and precautions needed to prevent an outbreak. He also sought a report from the department on measures taken to facilitate treatment of those diagnosed with the disease.
Polio campaign
An anti-polio campaign will be carried out in the province under the National Immunisation Programme from January 11 to 13, Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique said on Friday.
As many as 18 million children (below five years of age) would be administered polio vaccines by 46,604 teams, including 2,313 transit teams to be stationed on important inter-provincial roads. Among others, 36,012 teams would go door-to-door and 4,279 stationed at the Expanded Programme on Immunisation sites.
Health Secretary Ali Jan Khan said it would be ensured that children missed out in the previous campaigns were immunised in the upcoming campaign. Based on an analysis of data from the previous campaigns, he said, the department had prepared a list of households missed out in the previous campaigns.
The health secretary said that among the 51 cases reported in the country in 2015 only one was from the Punjab. However, he said the provincial trend might not continue this year if inter-provincial movement of people was not monitored. Transit points had been set up in districts bordering other provinces to immunise children of families entering the province, he said. The secretary asked the staff to hold daily meetings to review progress during the campaign.
Livestock sector: Drug regulatory authority to be set up soon
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Friday that a regulatory authority would soon be set up in the province to ensure that only good quality medicines needed for the livestock were available in the market.
He was addressing a meeting to review affairs of the Livestock Department including progress on drafting of a policy for the sector.
Sharif gave the department two weeks to review various proposals and present recommendations for the establishment of the regulatory authority.
He said the draft of the law required for the purpose should be completed as soon as possible.
Sharif also approved a risk allowance for field staff of the department and recruitment of technical staff on vacancies during the meeting.
He said effective measures had been taken for the development of the livestock sector. However, he said that in order to continue on the path of progress the department needed to evolve an institutional framework for its operations. The capacity building of the staff was also imperative, he said. The chief minister praised the results of a vaccination programme started by the department for protection of livestock from common diseases. He said distribution of free vaccines under the programme should continue. “Allocation of adequate funds will be ensured,” he said.
Sharif said the department should consult experts before preparing a future strategy for the vaccination programme. He said the coverage of Cholistan under the programme should be ensured. Sharif also sought proposals for use of unused land owned by the Livestock Department for public welfare projects.
He said development of the livestock sector was important for strengthening the country’s economy. He said majority of the rural population was associated with the livestock sector.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2016.
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