Public health: ‘Information sent to HQ inconsistent with ground realities’
Health director general says a special immunisation drive will start on June 9.
Health director general says a special immunisation drive will start on June 9. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
Health Department Director General Zahid Pervaiz on Thursday directed Health EDOs to ensure implementation of the Chief Minister’s Health Reforms Roadmap and focus on achieving 80 per cent immunisation coverage.
He said officials should also ensure 90 per cent deliveries by trained birth attendants by December 2015 to achieve the millennium development goals.
He said meeting these targets was essential for the success of Mother and Child Health Programme and Extended Programme for Immunisation.
He was presiding over a monthly health conference of EDOs on Thursday.
World Health Organisation (WHO) representative Obaidul Islam, Melinda Gates Foundation representative Aslam Chaudhry, CM Roadmap on Health head Izaz Akhtar and EPI Director Munir Ahmed too attended the meeting.
The meeting was told that the Health Department would launch a special immunisation drive on June 9.
Children up to two years of age would be vaccinated against nine diseases.
Pervaiz directed the EDOs to make arrangements for strict monitoring of vaccinators.
He further directed them to raise awareness regarding the campaign.
Steps taken for eradication of polio, dengue fever and hepatitis control, the MNCH programme and storage of vaccines were also discussed in the meeting.
The EDOs gave a presentation each on the performance of their districts.
Pervaiz expressed dissatisfaction with the data of EPI coverage and disease surveillance.
He said ground realities were different from reports sent to headquarters.
He said tampered data was not acceptable and action would be taken against officials responsible for it.
He said without accurate data, good planning was not possible.
He directed all officials to ensure implementation of dengue regulation in their districts to control mosquito breeding in the monsoon season.
He said dengue prevention manual had been distributed among all officers.
He said efforts should be made to ensure staff attendance and availability of essential drugs at all health facilities.
Recruitment of vaccinators, CDC supervisors and other health staff would be ensured by the end of August, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2014.
Health Department Director General Zahid Pervaiz on Thursday directed Health EDOs to ensure implementation of the Chief Minister’s Health Reforms Roadmap and focus on achieving 80 per cent immunisation coverage.
He said officials should also ensure 90 per cent deliveries by trained birth attendants by December 2015 to achieve the millennium development goals.
He said meeting these targets was essential for the success of Mother and Child Health Programme and Extended Programme for Immunisation.
He was presiding over a monthly health conference of EDOs on Thursday.
World Health Organisation (WHO) representative Obaidul Islam, Melinda Gates Foundation representative Aslam Chaudhry, CM Roadmap on Health head Izaz Akhtar and EPI Director Munir Ahmed too attended the meeting.
The meeting was told that the Health Department would launch a special immunisation drive on June 9.
Children up to two years of age would be vaccinated against nine diseases.
Pervaiz directed the EDOs to make arrangements for strict monitoring of vaccinators.
He further directed them to raise awareness regarding the campaign.
Steps taken for eradication of polio, dengue fever and hepatitis control, the MNCH programme and storage of vaccines were also discussed in the meeting.
The EDOs gave a presentation each on the performance of their districts.
Pervaiz expressed dissatisfaction with the data of EPI coverage and disease surveillance.
He said ground realities were different from reports sent to headquarters.
He said tampered data was not acceptable and action would be taken against officials responsible for it.
He said without accurate data, good planning was not possible.
He directed all officials to ensure implementation of dengue regulation in their districts to control mosquito breeding in the monsoon season.
He said dengue prevention manual had been distributed among all officers.
He said efforts should be made to ensure staff attendance and availability of essential drugs at all health facilities.
Recruitment of vaccinators, CDC supervisors and other health staff would be ensured by the end of August, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2014.