Cabinet body orders plan to prevent infectious diseases

LAHORE: Provincial Ministers Kh Salman Rafique, Kh Imran Nazir, Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman and Rana Sikandar Hayat jointly chaired the first meeting of the Provincial Cabinet Committee on infectious diseases including dengue at the Civil Secretariat on Monday.

They directed the health department to devise an effective plan of action to prevent polio, dengue and other diseases. Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman also attended the meeting, which was convened to review the situation of dengue and other communicable diseases. Secretary Health Ali Jan Khan gave a detailed briefing on infectious and epidemic diseases.

Provincial Health Minister Kh Salman Rafique said that all departments should play their role to prevent infectious and epidemic diseases. He said that he will soon start a media campaign for the awareness of the people regarding the prevention of diseases. He directed the district administration to ensure the cleaning of all the graveyards of cities on Eid.

Meanwhile, Khawaja Salman Rafique chaired the third meeting of the Sub-Cabinet Committee on Law and Order at the Civil Secretariat Monday to review the security arrangements of the Chinese, Eidul Fitr and New Zealand cricket series in detail during the meeting.

Khawaja Salman said that strict security arrangements are being made for Chinese residents across the province. Extraordinary security arrangements will also be made on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and the New Zealand cricket series.

He said an indiscriminate action is being taken against kite-making factories and drug dealers who are enemies of humanity across the province. The minister met with State Life Insurance Company Chairman Shoaib Javed Hussain in the Department of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education.

He said that the conditions of government hospitals would be improved. Availability of doctors in government hospitals during evening hours will be ensured, the minister said while chairing a meeting at Fatima Jinnah Medical University here on Monday.

We will start the recruitment process for the posts of senior registrars immediately. After receiving the HR details, the recruitment process will start on priority. Establishment of emergency medicine department will be ensured in Fatima Jinnah Medical University on the pattern of King Edward Medical University, the minister said and added that there is a need to make a comprehensive strategy to control the disease of thalassemia. We are determined to make government hospitals self-sufficient. We want to improve the quality of other facilities including treatment in government hospitals, the minister said.