Balochistan’s Zehri vows to uproot polio

Says situation can improve if health, education fare well


Mohammad Zafar January 15, 2016
PHOTO: AFP

QUETTA:


Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Sanaullah Zehri said on Friday that the provincial government was committed to rooting out terrorism and polio from the province.


Chairing a high-level meeting held here, in which he was also briefed about the regular prevention inoculation programme by the health department, the chief minister said, “Despite the attacks on polio centres, the anti-polio campaign was successfully completed in the province,” adding that it was not only appreciated by the federal government but also by the international organisations.

Polio count reaches 50 with latest case confirmed from Fata



Senator Agha Shahbaz Durrani, Chief Secretary Balochistan Saifullah Chatta and other high-ups were also present on the occasion.

The minister was told that the international organisations had acknowledged the successful completion of the anti-polio campaign through their letters to the health department. He was also apprised that despite a precarious security situation in the province, Balochistan government showed a remarkable performance in its fight against polio from September 2015 to January 2016.

Addressing the participants of the meeting, the chief minister said that the situation could improve significantly if health and education performed well. He stressed the need for bringing about drastic changes in these areas so the public could benefit.

The chief minister also directed health authorities to improve the condition of the district hospitals, saying that revolutionary measures were required to improve their services. “Summaries and mere paperwork will not do,” he said.

50th victim comes from Khyber Agency

He also urged to take strict action against the doctors, engineers and teachers involved in politics and ordered termination of such employees.

The chief minister said that the provincial hospitals should be designed along such lines where patients may feel comfortable and their trust could be restored. He also ordered immediate activation of the newly constructed trauma centre at the provincial hospital and stressed the need for taking strong measures to control child mortality rate.

He also directed the health authorities to carry out routine inoculation campaigns to save children from fatal diseases, such as measles, adding that during his recent visit to Islamabad and Punjab, he had also discussed the establishment of a cardiac hospital in Quetta. He said that Chief Minister Punjab had expressed his desire to lay the foundation stone of the project himself.

On the occasion, the chief secretary said he would coordinate with the Punjab government so that the project is started at the earliest.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2016.

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