RAWALPINDI: Punjab Caretaker Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Punjab Dr Jamal Nasir inaugurated the Health Mela in the garrison city at a private marquee on Karnal Sher Khan Avenue, formerly known as I.J. Principal Road.

The purpose of the health fair was to provide maternal and child health, general and mental health and family planning services to the underprivileged class. Apart from mother and child health and family planning counters, electronic medical record, nutrition screening, ultrasound and mental health clinics were also set up in the fair.

Dr Nasir visited all stalls where he was given a detailed briefing. Director Health Rawalpindi Dr Ansar Ishaq, Director Family Planning Sherien Sukhan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Health Dr Ijaz Ahmed, DHO Health Dr Ehsan Ghani and others were also present on this occasion.

Dr Nasir said that the Rawalpindi Health Department was working beyond its capacity and he was proud of doctors and paramedical staff for their excellent services.

He said that doctors and paramedics should perform official duties as religious obligation because service to humanity is a great virtue and when someone is in pain or suffering, the reward for serving them and providing relief to them is very high.

Dr Nasir added that the aim of the health fair is to bring together all government departments and non-government organisations working for mother and child health and family planning under one roof. He said that digital data collection of patients has also been demonstrated in this festival, which is the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi to create paperless records.

Anti-measles drive

A special immunisation campaign for inoculating more than 1.5 million children against measles has been launched in 10 districts of the province under the directions of Mr Naqvi. Dr Nasir kicked off the campaign by giving measles immunisation to children here on Monday.

The campaign will continue till June 24. Dr Jamal Nasir, on this occasion, said that approximately 1.5 million children between the ages of six months to five years will be vaccinated against measles in 147 union councils of 10 districts of Punjab during the ongoing special drive. Polio and vitamin A drops will also be administered to these children, he added.

Dr Nasir said that children will be vaccinated against measles and rubella in 80 union councils of Lahore city while only the measles vaccine will be administered in the other nine districts.

He said that the remaining union councils included 42 of district Rawalpindi, 12 of Jhang, three of Hafizabad, two each of Narowal, Sialkot, Kasur and Toba Tek Singh, while one each of Gujranwala and Sheikhupura where children will be vaccinated against measles.

On the request of the Punjab government, the World Health Organisation (WHO) was providing technical and operational support for the special campaign. Dr Nasir said that children were the future of the nation and their healthy upbringing was the national responsibility of all of us. The government was providing free vaccines against 12 deadly diseases to children under two years of age.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2023