KARACHI, Oct 11: The implementation of National Health Policy-2001 in Sindh was discussed at a meeting here on Wednesday.

Presiding over the meeting, Provincial Health Minister Ahsan Ahmed asked the project directors to make efforts for the approval of PC-I of their projects.

Reviewing the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI), the meeting decided that 100 per cent protection would be provided to children under 5 years by the year 2010.

Besides, 80 per cent children in the province would be safeguarded against Hepatitis B before 2003 through vaccination campaigns from July 1, 2002.

The health minister told the meeting that although the Federal Health Ministry had set Dec 31, 2002 as the date to bring polio incidence at zero level, Sindh should achieve the target till June 30, 2002.

Reviewing the pace of TB control, Ahsan Ahmed directed that DOTS programme should be extended to the entire province before the end of 2003 with the involvement of NGOs and private practitioners to achieve the target.

The minister ordered the revision of Malaria Eradication Programme before its resubmission at the next meeting.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the safe-blood transfusion plan, the minister asked the DG for Health, Dr Fateh Muhammad, to chalk out a comprehensive plan in this regard and submit it at the next meeting.

He, however, showed satisfaction over the AIDS-control programme and directed that groups of people with greater risk of contacting AIDS were provided full care in collaboration with the NGOs.

The meeting also discussed the situation created by the induction of lady health care workers in the field of primary healthcare.

During the meeting, the minister asked the director for nursing to prepare a detailed summary for the governor about the recruitment of nurses.

The DG for health was also asked that the issue regarding other people working in place of nurses should be settled forthwith.—APP