Polio vaccination: Check posts in border districts ordered
Health officials directed to be vigilant.
LAHORE:
Secretary Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan has directed Health Department officials to establish permanent check posts at Punjab districts bordering other provinces to administer polio drops to travelling children.
The secretary issued these directions at a meeting on Saturday to review health facilities in Rahim Yar Khan and DG Khan, after he was told that many children from other provinces had not been administered the polio vaccine and there was a risk they could spread the virus in the districts bordering the Punjab. The health secretary said that a system of immunisation should be set up so that all children are vaccinated before the age of two.
He told officials to set up a force of volunteers at the village level for registration of newborns so they could be quickly vaccinated. He said new mothers and infants must not be discharged from hospitals until at least 24 hours after delivery so they could be given a complete check-up.
Khan also directed officials to quickly fill the vacancies for nurses and lady health workers in tehsil headquarters hospitals and rural health centres.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2012.
Secretary Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan has directed Health Department officials to establish permanent check posts at Punjab districts bordering other provinces to administer polio drops to travelling children.
The secretary issued these directions at a meeting on Saturday to review health facilities in Rahim Yar Khan and DG Khan, after he was told that many children from other provinces had not been administered the polio vaccine and there was a risk they could spread the virus in the districts bordering the Punjab. The health secretary said that a system of immunisation should be set up so that all children are vaccinated before the age of two.
He told officials to set up a force of volunteers at the village level for registration of newborns so they could be quickly vaccinated. He said new mothers and infants must not be discharged from hospitals until at least 24 hours after delivery so they could be given a complete check-up.
Khan also directed officials to quickly fill the vacancies for nurses and lady health workers in tehsil headquarters hospitals and rural health centres.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2012.