Fatal disease: ‘Thalassemia initiative to extend across the Punjab’

Sharif meets delegation of Sundas Foundation officials

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Friday that serving the ill was a form of worship.

He was speaking to Sundas Foundation officials. Sharif said the foundation was playing a commendable role with regard to the provision of safe blood to those suffering from thalassemia, haemophilia and blood cancer.

He said the government would continue to extend full cooperation to organisations engaged in welfare activities.

Sharif said the government had launched a 22-district-wide thalassemia prevention programme.

He said the scope of the initiative was being broadened to encompass the entire province.

Sharif said taking coordinated measures and making collective efforts was the need of the hour in this regard.

While praising the welfare activities of the foundation, the chief minister said it should also play a proactive role in preventing thalassemia.

Sharif said a comprehensive plan should be evolved in this regard to ensure that steps were taken to eradicate the fatal disease.

He said organisations of the foundation’s ilk should devise a programme on this account. Sharif said the government would extend all-out support in this regard.

Sundus Foundation chairman Munnu Bhai and president Muhammad Yasin Khan told the chief minister that the foundation had been providing free medicines and healthcare to deserving children suffering from thalassemia. They said the foundation was also engaged in providing safe blood to patients from disadvantaged backgrounds across hospitals.

Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique, the health secretary, the finance special secretary, the press secretary to the chief minister and Sundas Foundation directors Sohail Warraich, Sohail Ahmed, Iqbal Baig Chughtai, Iqbal Bhatti and Shahid Hassan Sheikh were also present on the occasion. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2015.