4 kids died of measles in Lahore in a day

Lahore: Atleast 4 toddles were died due to measles in Mayo Hospital.While Punjab Minister for Health Mrs. Salima Hashmi has said that negligence in routine immunization coverage is the major cause of spreading measles. She said that strict measures are being taken to remove the loopholes of immunization coverage.

She expressed these views while talking to media after inaugurating computerized token system for the convenient of the patients at Government Shahdra Hospital here today. Secretary Health Arif Nadeem, MS Dr. Abid Kareem, Project Director Dr. Ijaz Ahmed Sheikh and other senior doctors were present on this occasion. Mrs. Salima Hashmi said that Health Department as well as government of the Punjab is taking every step to control the measles menace. She said that free treatment facilities are being extended to the measles affected children in the hospitals. She disclosed that Punjab government is planning to launch a mass anti-measles campaign throughout the province in the month of June on which Rs. 3.5 billion would be spent.

Mrs. Salima Hashmi said that she herself is a mother and she can realize the concern of the mothers regarding the health and lives of their children. She said that great responsibilities ly upon the shoulders of coming elected government with regard to control maternal mortality rate for which the government has to plan provision of better healthcare facilities to the women and children. Provincial Minister said that malnutrition, poverty and non-availability of basic civic facilities directly affect the health of women and children.

Earlier, Mrs. Salima Hashmi inaugurated the newly introduced computerized token system for the patients in the hospital. She said that computerized token system would be introduced in other public hospitals in phases. She said that this system would end favoritism in the hospitals and every patient would avail facility of medical checkup by a doctor on his turn. Mrs. Salima Hashmi visited different departments of the hospital. She also inquired from the women patients in OPD about the medical facilities being extended in the hospital.