PHP would be made more effective:Capt. (R) Arif Nadeem

Lahore: Secretary Health Punjab Capt. (R) Arif Nadeem has said that Mother, New Born Child Health (MNCH) and Preventive Health Programmes would be made more effective in collaboration with UNICEF and consolidated steps would be taken accordingly.

He stated this while presiding over a review meeting at Directorate General Health Punjab here today. Besides, Special Secretary Health Babar Hayat Tarar, Director General Health Punjab Dr. Nisar Ahmed Cheema, UNICEF Child Survival Specialist Dr. Sarita Neupane, UNICEF Medical Officer Dr. Tahir Manzoor, Director Health EPI Dr. Tanvir, Provincial Coordinator FP & PH Dr. Akhtar Rasheed Malik, senior officers of the Department and Health Managers attended the meeting. The meeting reviewed the progress of different health programmes continuing in Punjab in collaboration with UNICEF. The meeting stressed the need of consolidated efforts for optimal utilization of financial assistance extended by UNICEF and human resource so that better health facilities could be provided to the poor segments of the society.

The meeting agreed to enhance the role of lady health workers in prevention of diseases and to convey public health messages door-to-door. The meeting discussed various proposals for this purpose. The meeting also reviewed maternity facilities under 24/7 programme at BHUs and decided to expand this facility to other health centres. The meeting also took a review of different health programmes being conducted in Punjab with the collaboration of UNICEF including MNCH, HIV/AIDS, HMIS, EPI, malnutrition and Iodized Salt programmes. The meeting stressed the need to enhance the routine EPI coverage for protection of mother and neonatal.