LAHORE: The Punjab government has authorised 150 hospitals and the executive district officers (health) all over the province for the issuance of ‘international certificate of vaccination’ to those entering or leaving Pakistan.

The decision was taken after the World Health Organization curb imposed on Pakistan on the recommendations of the International Health Regulations (2005).

“We have authorised 150 officials, including medical superintendents of the tertiary care hospitals, district headquarters hospitals (DHQs) and the health EDOs in Punjab to issue certificates to the international travelers”, Health Director General Dr Zahid Pervez told Dawn.

He said in this regard the health department had issued a circular to the authorised officials with standard guidelines in accordance with the WHO recommendations.

He said the officials have been empowered to countersign the certificates which would be issued by the technicians deputed at the EPI centres already established at all the government health facilities in Punjab.

The staff deputed at the centres would administer anti-polio vaccine to the visitors and issue a signed certificate to them. The visitor will then get it countersigned by the MS or EDO from the authorised institute.

He said that he had written a letter to the WHO authorities informing them that the measure recommended by the organisation had been implemented in Punjab.

To a question, Dr Pervez said the international travelers would have to get the certificates four weeks before their departure as recommended by the WHO.

According to the WHO recommendations, ‘all residents and long-term visitors (i.e. 4 weeks) receive a dose of OPV or inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) between 4 weeks and 12 months prior to international travel’

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed officials concerned to vigorously pursue the anti-polio campaign in the province.

Presiding over a meeting to review the anti-polio campaign on Tuesday, he said in addition to administrative machinery, elected representative should also take an active part in the campaign.

The chief minister said effective arrangements should be made for vaccination against polio at the entry and exit points of the province and added that district coordination officers should take necessary measures for the success of the drive.

He said special attention be paid to eradication of polio from the temporary dwellings of gypsies. Expressing indignation over the detection of polio virus in environmental sample from Lahore, he said curbing its causes was also essential.

CM’s advisor on health Khwaja Salman Rafiq, parliamentary secretary Khwaja Imran Nazir, chief secretary, health secretary, Lahore commissioner, DCO and other concerned officers were present.--