Secretary for improved surveillance

to improve surveillance for polio eradication and Congo fever across the province

LAHORE: Primary and Secondary Healthcare Secretary Ali Jan Khan directed the health executive district officers (EDOs) on Sunday to improve surveillance for polio eradication and Congo fever (Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever) across the province.

Chairing the monthly meeting of EDOs at the Directorate General of Health Services, Khan said that in view of the upcoming Eidul Azha, the EDOs must enhance coordination with the Livestock Department and implement the agreed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Congo virus surveillance.

Health Services Director General Mukhtar Hussain Syed, programme managers and officials from the Chief Minister’s Roadmap team, the Punjab Information Technology Board, Policy and Strategic Planning Unit, the UNICEF, the WHO and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation attended the meeting.

Extended Programme of Immunisation (EPI) Director Munir Ahmed updated the participants on the revised performance indicators in the National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication for 2016-17 in areas like programme operations, risk assessment and decision support and management and oversight and accountability.

Ali Jan Khan said a biometric attendance system had been introduced with help from the PITB.

The Chief Minister’s Roadmap team shared data analysis on key performance indicators like E-vaccs coverage, safe deliveries, biometric attendance, clinical staff posting and presence, cleanliness, medicine supplies and stocks.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2016.