Punjab Health Department and Unicef signed a two years work plan (2011-12) with a planned budget of 17.72 million dollars. This plan is based on the agreement of co-operation between Government of Pakistan and Unicef. Major focus of this work plan is to address the key issues related to timely achievement of MDGs particularly goals of child and maternal health & nutrition, a spokesman of health department said.
Secretary Health Punjab said here on Saturday that main interventions of the Work Plan will include strengthening of immunisation programme including polio eradication, provision of basic & comprehensive maternal & child health care, including essential & emergency new born care, emergency obstetric care, integrated management of neonatal and childhood illnesses, prevention of parent to child transmission of HIV etc, prevention and treatment of maternal & child malnutrition, including community management of acute malnutrition, infant and young child feeding and programmes and prevention of micronutrient deficiencies, conduct of Mother Child Health weeks twice in a year in all districts of Punjab, awareness raising, health education and social mobilisation for active involvement and participation of communities in all the programs/activities being launched/strengthening of monitoring & evaluation systems, including District Health Information system, LHW management information system and surveillance systems, evidence based planning and appropriate/efficient use of resources based on internationally recognised models to reach the MDGHs with equity.
He further said that strengthening of disaster management capacity of all the stakeholders including government departments are also part of the plan. Although some of the activities will be conducted at provincial level but most of the activities will be done in the most neglected southern districts of Punjab, including Rajanpur, DG Khan, and Mianwali & Bhakkar.