‘School health screening to save future generation’

Caretaker Punjab Health Minister terms govt initiative 'game changer' in children's health

LAHORE:

Caretaker Punjab Health Minister Dr Javed Akram has said the government’s initiative school health screening project will be proved historic and game changer.

This was expressed by him while jointly presiding over a meeting with Health Minister Dr Nasir Jamal, held in the Department of Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education on Thursday.

He said the programme would protect the present and future generations from dangerous diseases in the province.

“The first time in the history of Pakistan, children were going to be screened on such a large scale,” he said.

Caretaker Punjab Minister of Primary and Secondary Health Care Department Dr Jamal Nasir said the PHC would audit all the laboratories regarding the health screening of children.

Families of patients suffering from dangerous diseases like thalassemia go through extreme pain every day, he said. The minister said that parents could save their children from lifelong disabilities through school health screening program.

Earlier, the ministers reviewed the measures regarding blood screening of the 9th grade students in educational institutions of Punjab. Additional Secretary Agha Nabeel informed about the details in this regard in the meeting.

He highlighted that every child would be screened for various diseases including thalassemia before the 9th class examination. He said final approval of the proposed legislation by the Law Department would be given by the Punjab Cabinet.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2023.