Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Kh Imran Nazir has directed the Executive District Officers (EDO) to personally monitor the polio campaign in December and to ensure compliance with the indicators of National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication 2016-17.
Chairing the monthly EDOs meeting, he said that even though Punjab did not report any polio case in the year 2016, the positive environmental samples are still a cause of concern, which in turn require continued efforts in the upcoming polio campaign.
Alongside the minister, Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Ali Jan Khan, Director General Health Services Punjab Dr Mukhtar Hussain Syed, EDOs (H) of all districts, Chief Minister Roadmap team, PITB, Policy and Strategic Planning Unit, UNICEF, WHO, and Program Managers participated in the meeting.
Kh Imran Nazir said that special efforts must be made to tighten pharmaceutical drug control with firm action being taken against culprits involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit drugs.
Emergency Operation Center Coordinator Dr Munir Ahmed said that due to a positive environmental sample Multan will be specifically focused on in the polio campaign. He gave a presentation on the indicators requiring immediate attention in the National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication. He further said that Punjab was able to address the rural and urban disparity in immunisation coverage reducing it to just over 1%.
Ali Jan Khan said that preventive health care was under special focus and based on the study of successful models in the region and the world, new initiatives are to be introduced by the start of 2017.
The secretary also directed penalties and other disciplinary measures for staff not complying with biometric attendance, asking for a report on those sites where the scanners are not functioning.
The meeting reviewed the status of basic health units (BHUs), facilities, and resources needed for improvement.
The Chief Minister Roadmap team also presented an analysis on Key Performance Indicators for Primary and Secondary Healthcare. Vaccine performance was especially considered and it was decided that Punjab will further fine tune its immunisation program by analysis of data.