Punjab Minister for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Kh Salman Rafique has said that the Punjab Public Health Agency (PPHA) will play an effective role for improving public health, disease control, preparation of a disease data bank, and building the capacities of medical staff.
He said that a disease surveillance and response unit would also be set up at the provincial level.
The minister was addressing a session regarding the working of the PPHA here on Tuesday.
The meeting discussed the repositioning of the Institute of Public Health, creation of opportunities for higher education in public health, capacity-building of public health workers, provision of career opportunities, and the training of high quality nurses and allied health professionals.
PPHA Chief Executive of Dr Shabnam briefed the minister about the setting up of a provincial disease surveillance and response unit and said that different sub-units including a knowledge unit, data depositing unit, and research unit would be set up under the provincial disease surveillance and response unit.
Through these, she said, all necessary experts and technical facilities would be provided under one roof for disease surveillance. Kh Salman Rafique said that accurate data of disease prevalence was essential for effective planning, dengue control, and improving the public health facilities. He directed that district health development centers should also be strengthened for providing training opportunities for public health experts.
Specialized Healthcare Special Secretary Dr Sajid Mahmood Chauhan, University of Health Sciences Vice Chancellor Junaid Sarfraz Khan, Fatima Jinnah Medical University Pro Vice Chancellor Amir Nauman Khan, Deputy Secretary (Technical) Dr Mohsin and other concerned officers also attended the briefing.
