Unicef celebrating 'Mother & Child Health Week' in Punjab

With a view to raising awareness and promoting health education among the women pertaining to issues related to pregnancy, delivery and healthcare of the infants, Health Department Punjab in collaboration with Unicef is celebrating 'Mother & Child Health Week' in Punjab.
During the week, 50,000 lady health workers and officials of Health Department would pay door-to-door visit for creating awareness and promoting health education among the women. Mothers would also be sensitised about the importance of breast feeding in minimising mortality rate among infants, Special Secretary Health Waseem Mukhtar, said.
While addressing a media briefing regarding the Mother & Child Health Week here on Monday, Waseem stressed the need for creating awareness and health education among the women regarding their own health as well as their children. He said the Mother & Child Health Week is being observed with a sense of responsibility and service to humanity.
He urged upon the mothers to breast feed their newly born child up to six months instead of any substitute. Director General Health Punjab Dr Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry Provincial Co-ordinator Unicef Dr Tahir Manzoor and Provincial Co-ordinator Family Planning & Primary Health Programme Dr Akthar Rashid Malik were also present on this occasion.
On this occasion, Director General Health Dr Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry informed mediamen that during this week, 3.4 million children of two to five years of age will be given de-worming medicines while 1.5 million pregnant women will be given folic acid tablets to protect them against anemia. He further said that a special campaign would be launched to vaccinate Anti-tetanus Sera (ATS) injection to pregnant women and ORS packets would be distributed for saving children from diarrhea.