RAWALPINDI, Nov 25 : The Punjab Government has invested almost Rs20 billion in health infrastructure, besides an annual recurrent expenditure of Rs8 billion, official statistical figures showed.

Presently, the health department employs manpower in excess of 120,000 including 20,000 doctors. There are more than 5,000 health facilities in the Punjab province.

According to official figures, a network of Primary Health Care (PHC) exists at the Union Council level.

Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI) coverage data for the past decade reveals a significant dip around 1995, which was attributed to interrupted supplies and support to the programme.

There has been an increase in the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases during this period, particularly increase in number of deaths due to measles during third quarter of the decade.

On the whole, DPT, Polio, BCG, and NNT immunisation coverage has registered a positive trend. According to official sources, polio now exists in a few pockets only.

There appears to be a strong will to revitalise the EPI especially through provision of routine immunisation and simultaneously focussing on polio eradication activities on National Immunisation Days (NIDs).

Oral Re-hydration Therapy has become the first line of home based treatment for diarrhoea cases, the success is attributed to effective interpersonal communication and mass media campaign by the health authorities.