Punjab govt to establish five paraplegic centres

Facilities aimed at preventing disability from diseases, accidents

LAHORE:

The punab government plans of establish five paraplegic centres in the province for offering treatment, rehabilitation services and assistive devices to the patients.

The primary paraplegic centre will be set up at the Multan District Headquarters Hospital, with satellite sites for follow-up and device maintenance at the Samanabad Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Lahore, Nusrat Fateh Ali Hospital in Faisalabad, Taunsa THQ Hospital and Wah Cantt General Hospital.

The central facility in Multan will have 30 beds and modern rehabilitation resources, including equipment and expertise for spinal surgery.

The first paraplegic centre with 20 beds will be inaugurated in Samanabad.

Caretaker Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr Jamal Nasir underscored that the primary goal of the project was to prevent permanent disability of the tongue, hand, arm, leg and foot resulting from diseases or accidents.

Additionally, a workshop for manufacturing artificial limbs for disabled individuals will be established under the project. The caretaker cabinet has tentatively approved outsourcing the workshop.

Speech therapy services will also be available at the rehabilitation centres. Counseling will be offered to patients under treatment, with the aim of helping them become productive members of society. Furthermore, the families of such individuals will receive training to provide care at home.

Legal framework

Meanwhile, a meeting was held for a detailed review of measures to improve the legal framework against violence against women.

Provincial Caretaker Minister Dr Javed Akram said on the occasion that front offices would be established to report incidents of violence against women at the district level across Punjab. Heads of medical institutions will be entrusted with the responsibility of the front offices.

He said committees to be established at the district level for the purpose would include officers of all relevant departments.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2023.