Public health sector is being strengthened in Punjab for controlling diseases

Lahore: Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health, Kh. Salman Rafique has said that public health sector is being strengthened in Punjab for controlling diseases and promoting awareness about the importance of hygienic living among the masses. Technical assistance and experience of international experts is of vital importance in this regard.

He said this while talking to the Director Public Health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Professor of Glasgow University Linda De Caestecker who called him here today. Director General Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, Dean Institute of Public Health Prof. Moaaz Ahmad, EDO Health Lahore Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, Dr. Haroon Jehangir and other officers were also present. Kh. Salman Rafique said that Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is focusing on prevention of diseases and creating awareness among the people about public health. He said that healthcare system in Punjab is very old and there is a need to introduce reforms. He said that there is a shortage of trained human resource. He said that there is a need for guidance and technical assistance of experts to control communicable and non-communicable diseases, improve public health sector, reduce infant and maternal mortality rate and achieve millennium development goals. He said that Institute of Public Health is being revamped for improving public health indicators and recommendations of health experts are necessary for this purpose. It was decided in the meeting that IPH officers would hold separate meetings with foreign experts including Prof. Linda for the uplift of IPH. Kh. Salman Rafique said that he will share the recommendations formulated by Prof. Linda with the Chief Minister Punjab for the up-gradation of IPH.