PESHAWAR, April 29: NWFP Health Minister Inayatullah Khan has said that under the recently approved health policy mother and child health has been accorded priority and attention would be given to improve conditions of this sector.

Talking to a German delegation which had called on him on Friday, the minister highlighted areas of cooperation and briefed the team on the healthcare delivery system in the province.

The delegation was led by Dr Ralf Mohs, Regional Director for Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, Germany’s ministry of economic cooperation and development, said an official handout.

Elaborating the official policy on prevention of diseases, the minister said the polio immunization programme proved to be quite successful in the province and a considerable reduction in polio cases had been achieved due to strong commitment of the provincial government.

He said that a HIV/AIDS control programme had also been initiated in the province under which efforts would be made to raise people’s awareness about the menace.

Terming hepatitis a major public health problem, the minister told experts that both the federal and provincial governments were focusing on the control of the killer disease.

Referring to standardisation of district headquarters hospitals and improvement of primary healthcare facilities, the minister said efforts were underway to develop a proper referral system at local level.

The minister also highlighted efforts being taken for controlling tuberculosis and Malaria and bridging the gap between community and basic health outlets through lady health workers.