Canadian High Commissioner Heather Cruden visits DG Health office

Lahore: Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ms. Heather Cruden visited the Emergency Operation Center in the Directorate General Health Services Punjab here on Wednesday and held a meeting with top officials of the provincial health department.

Punjab was represented by Advisor to Chief Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, Secretary Health Punjab Jawad Rafique Malik, Director General Health Services Punjab Dr. Zahid Pervaiz and Director EPI Dr. Munir Ahmed. UNICEF Pakistan chief Angela Kearney, who was accompanied by senior officials of UNICEF Punjab, also attended the meeting. Representatives of WHO and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and partner organizations were present in the meeting as well.

The visiting High Commission appreciated the performance and progress of the provincial government and said that polio eradication as well as mother and child healthcare programs were high on the agenda of the Canadian government.

The Advisor to Chief Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said that Punjab has been polio free in the year 2015 so far and with firm commitment from the highest political leadership, the province is eying complete polio eradication in the near future.

Secretary Health Punjab Jawad Rafique Malik apprised the visiting High Commission of the efforts of the provincial government on improving the routine immunization. He shared the details of the technology-driven E-vaccs system through which the progress of vaccinating staff is monitored through purpose-built smart phones and applications. He said that through the GPRS coordinates, the compliance with the vaccinators’ tour program is ensured so that desired level in routine immunization is achieved. The secretary shared that immunizing the migrant and mobile population remained a challenge in Punjab, but efforts were still underway to ensure complete coverage.

The Canadian High Commission suggested that this innovative use of IT technology may be extended to other health care programs.

Director EPI Dr. Munir Ahmed gave a presentation on the issues and challenges vis-à-vis polio eradication in Punjab. He elaborated details of routes used by the migrant population through maps and special measures for southern districts as part of the larger focus on central Pakistan. Dr. Munir Ahmed also mentioned that health camps set up in priority-1 and 2 districts were a great success. He appreciated the support of UNICEF in providing quality human well as technical resources to the polio eradication efforts. He said one of Punjab’s strength was PEI/EPI synergy and smart use of polio assets for improving routine immunization.