PESHAWAR: Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah on Thursday handed over 100 motorcycles and mobile workshop vehicles for cold chain repair to the relevant quarters.

A brief ceremony was held on this occasion, attended by Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah as a special guest.

Among other participants of the ceremony were Director General Health Services Dr Shaukat Ali, Director Public Health Dr Irshad Roghani, chief of Unicef field office KP Radoslaw Rzehak, health specialist Dr Inamullah and DHO Peshawar Dr Idris.

Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah handed over 100 motorcycles purchased for Peshawar’s vaccinators to DHO Peshawar through DG Health Dr Shaukat Ali.

He also handed over three mobile workshops for cold chain maintenance and two dry logistics vehicles from the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) to EPI Director Dr Arif.

These five vehicles will be distributed in five divisions of the province, where they will play a crucial role in maintaining the cold chain supply.

In his address at the ceremony, the health minister expressed satisfaction with the health team’s performance and emphasised advancement of work through teamwork in accordance with the vision of the ruling party.

He acknowledged that while there were only a few vehicles, they would save thousands of lives. Efforts will be made to launch a mobile workshop at the district level. He emphasised that there were more challenges than anticipated.

He stated that while the poliovirus had been eradicated worldwide, control over it in Pakistan could not be achieved.

“For the district of Peshawar, 100 bikes have been allocated, which will facilitate health workers in providing health services. We all need to be united on these issues, if you all support us, we will move forward,” he said.

Regarding Integrated Health Programme employees’ salaries and other issues, he said their issues would be resolved soon and they would be made permanent.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2024