RAWALPINDI: ‘Health Week’ was launched in Punjab on Monday during which over 700,000 people will be screened and vaccinated free of cost.

The initiative has been taken on the directions of caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, says a press release.

Caretaker Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr Jamal Nasir said the ‘Health Week’ would continue till October 26.

Free screening for eight diseases, including hepatitis B, C and HIV, as well as vaccination would be conducted during the week. A total of 587 health facilities in the province – 27 district headquarters hospitals, 125 tehsil headquarters hospitals, 327 rural health centres and 108 basic health units – would extend screening and vaccination services to the people, the minister said.

587 health facilities to provide screening, vaccination services

Apart from this, free screening for TB, blood sugar and free check-up of pregnant women will also be carried out, he added.

Dr Jamal Nasir said free vaccination of children under two years of age was also being conducted while Mian Meer Hospital in Lahore city had been made the focal point of the ‘Health Week’ activities.

He said under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, special attention was being paid to the health sector.

“There was no shortage of resources and the entire team of the caretaker government is working with the passion to improve the health services delivery,” he added.

The provincial minister said for the first time in history 52,000 jail inmates had been screened and vaccinated in the prisons of Punjab.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Dr Hasan Waqar Cheema visited Primary Health Centre Dhaman Syedan where he inaugurated a health camp.

District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Ijaz Ahmed gave a briefing on the occasion.

During the briefing, it was said that the weekly health programme had been chalked out in all headquarter hospitals as well as primary centres in Rawalpindi district.

In the health camp, tests for hepatitis B and C, HIV and malaria and eye examination would be conducted free of cost while check-ups for seasonal fever, cold and other minor diseases will also be carried out.Special measures have been taken for check-up and ultrasound of pregnant women in the health camp as well as free vaccinations and immunisations for children up to the age of five years.

A team of expert doctors will conduct a medical examination of the patients in the camp.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2023