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Provision of justice, equality fundamental injunction of Islam, Shehbaz says
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday presided over an important meeting to take a detailed review of the progress made on the health sector reforms programme.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that every possible step was being taken to provide quality healthcare facilities adding that he was desirous of making the healthcare system in Punjab “better than the best”.
“The Punjab government has provided resources to the tune of billions of rupees in a bid to bring improvements in the healthcare facilities being offered by the hospitals in the province, and no lack of resources would ever occur,” said the chief minister. He said that further efforts should be made to achieve the targets of the ongoing reforms programme of the health sector because achieving these targets would play an important role in providing better treatment facilities to the people.
“An effective strategy should be developed and be immediately implemented upon to achieve the targets in the districts that are lagging behind, and the results should be achieved by implementing the steps taken for the ailing humanity,” said Shehbaz.
In this regard, he said, everyone would have to work hard and move further with commitment because the country was blessed with tremendous resources by Allah, said the chief minister while adding that positive results were achieved due to the bifurcation of the health sector in two parts. “Keeping in view the needs of the future, a third section of the health sector should also be pondered over and final recommendations should be presented soon,” he said.
The chief minister said that by the grace of Allah and due to the hard work of the health department, many improvements were achieved in the standards of medical facilities available at the public sector hospitals, basic health units and rural health centres and this had given a new confidence to the patients.
“Latest ultrasound machines have been provided to 60 BHUs and this number will further be increased soon. Vaccination coverage has also been expanded, but efforts should be accelerated to further expand it,” said Shehbaz.
He maintained that an effective monitoring of ongoing health reforms programme was very essential. He also said that 100 filter clinics were set-up to control hepatitis across the province, and an organised awareness campaign should be launched regarding the adoption of precautionary measures that need to be taken against hepatitis.
“On the other side, the infection control programme is being implemented in an effective manner in the hospitals which are being made infection-free for the first time in the history of the country. Incinerators are also being set-up to dispose of the solid waste of the hospitals,” he added.
The chief minister directed that lady health workers should be provided with training to keep them abreast of the modern needs and requirements, and the LHVs showing good performance should be encouraged. Similarly, the nutrition of mother and child should be given particular importance and an organised awareness campaign should also be launched about the utility of lactation for the infants.
“Special TB Centers will be established in the public sector hospitals under the TB Control Programme to provide 100 percent free healthcare facilities,” said Shehbaz.
The chief minister expressed satisfaction that every step of the Punjab government was aimed at benefiting the ailing humanity and added that people serving the patients were his pride. “I shall fully encourage such ministers, officers and officials,” he added.
Shehbaz commended the performance of provincial ministers Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Khawaja Imran Nazir, Advisor Umar Saif, P&D chairman, P&S Health secretary, Health P&D members, PPHA CEO and other officials over their good performance in the health sector reforms programme.
Provincial ministers Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Kh Salman Rafiq, Kh Imran Nazir, Advisor Dr Umar Saif, additional chief secretary, P&D chairman, secretaries of finance and P&S healthcare, CEOs of Infrastructure Development Authority Punjab and the Punjab Healthcare Commission, UHS VC, medical experts other concerned officials attended the meeting.
PROVISION OF JUSTICE, EQUALITY FUNDAMENTAL INJUNCTIONS OF ISLAM: SHEHBAZ
Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that the purpose of observing the International Day of Social Justice was to create awareness in the society about the importance and utility of principles of justice.
In his message on the International Day of Social Justice being observed today, Shehbaz said that Islam stressed on the promotion of norms and high values of peace and justice and added that provision of justice and equality were fundamental injunctions of Islam. Societal discrepancies occur in the societies where the provision of justice is not ensured, said the chief minister.
He observed that the formation of a society based on justice was only possible through strong protection of human rights and a justice-based society was a fundamental pillar to ensure socio-economic progress of the country.
Shehbaz said that fulfillment of the demand of justice along with the formation of a better and civilized society was among the priorities of the Punjab government, as ensuring the provision of justice to every citizen of the society was the responsibility of the state.
“There is no doubt that equitable provision of justice is essential for the development of a country as an honourable and civilized nation,” he said while adding that economic development and prosperity could not be achieved without fulfilling the needs of justice.
The chief minister said that promotion of justice and supremacy of the constitution were manifestoes of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and on this day, we should reiterate our commitments that prompt provision of justice to all the segments of society is fully ensured.
