Mother & Child Health Week has started in Punjab

Lahore: Mother & Child Health Week has started in Punjab and will continue till November 22 during which besides highlighting importance of mother and child health, awareness about preventive measures against disease will also be created among women.

This was stated by Advisor on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique while talking to media after inaugurating Mother & Child Health Week in Model Town Hospital today. Besides Provincial Chief of UNICEF Dr. David, Coordinator of National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Dr. Javed Umer, Additional Director General Health Integrated Programme for Lady Health Worker Dr. Zafar Ikram, Dr. Tahir Manzoor of UNICEF and other officers were present on the occasion.

Kh. Salman Rafiq told that government has planned to recruit doctors on adhoc basis for meeting the shortage of staff at Basic Health Units and BHUs and RHCs are being made functional speedily. He said that creation of awareness among rural women is essential for controlling death rate among pregnant women and new born babies. He said that instead of traditional birth attendants, women could pass through delivery process under the supervision of trained birth attendant or lady doctor.

Kh. Salman Rafiq said that during the Mother & Child Health Week, women will be motivated to get completed vaccination course against nine basic diseases and creation will be provided for implementing hygienic principles. He said that during the week being observed with cooperation of UNICEF, 48 thousand lady health workers, lady health supervisors and community health workers will take part who will convey health massage from door to door. He said that besides providing de-worming tablets to 60 lakh children, eight lakh children will also be administered vaccination who had not been inoculated earlier. He said that lady health workers will hold health education session with 40 lakh women.

Moreover, 10 lakh pregnant women will be administered vaccine for protection against Tetanus. He said that pregnant women will be medically examined and they will be advised to use balanced diet and screening of breast feeding women will also be carried out.