Newly-appointed WHO’s Country Representative calls on Kh Salman rafique

Lahore: The newly-appointed WHO’s Country Representative to Pakistan Dr. Michael Jean Jules Thieren called on the Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh. Salman Rafique and Secretary Health Dr. Ijaz Munir at Civil Secretariat. On this occasion, WHO Operations Officer, Dr. Babar Alam, WHO Polio Programme Head for Punjab Dr. Obaid ul Islam and WHO Professional Officer Dr. Farah Sabih were also present.

During the meeting Kh. Salman Rafique and Secretary Health briefed the WHO delegation regarding the Punjab healthcare strategy, establishment of Punjab Health care Commission to regulate public and private sector healthcare providers, integration of reproductive, maternal, neo-natal child health and nutrition programme, initiation of health watch to monitor district managers, Chief Minister’s Roadmap Initiatives to improve immunization and maternal and child health services delivery, establishment of policy and strategic planning unit, initiative of social health insurance as part of universal health coverage and initiative of introducing RHC Plus Model and making 30 percent BHUs 24/7 for delivery facilities.

Dr. Michael Jean Jules Thieren acknowledged the commitment of government of Punjab to keep health sector development as priority agenda item and concerted efforts to improve routine immunization under the Chief Minister’s initiatives with top priority given to polio eradication. The meeting, it was agreed upon high vigilance for uniformly high routine immunization programme all over the province.

The meeting also discussed special plans with focus on immunization as well as healthcare along with nutrition and sanitation in slums of the mega cities. The meeting also discussed strategy to eradicate polio virus from the environmental samples of Lahore to check its spread to other areas. The meeting decided to convert the challenge of IDPs into opportunity for vaccinating them against polio, measles and other diseases.

Dr. Michael Jean Jules Thieren said that highly sensitive surveillance is very crucial for a large province like Punjab. He also appreciated the establishment of centre of excellence for disease control and involvement of LHWs in routine immunization and said that WHO has provided support for training of LHWs and is now ready to extend its support for twelve more districts.

Dr. Michael Jean Jules Thieren assured maximum support of WHO to Punjab Health Department for the betterment of healthcare system and prevention of diseases programmes.