The Punjab government is determined to eliminate the menace of quackery from the province and the health authorities have been directed to launch operation in this regard without any fear or favor. Punjab Minister for Primary & Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir, while addressing the monthly conference of Deputy Districts Officers (DDOs) Health at a local hotel, directed the DDOs-Health to play their active role for eliminating the quackery from the province.
"No pressure or influence should be taken while taking action against the quacks and sealing their clinics," he said, adding: "The quacks are big source of mishandling and aggravating the diseases and patients of dengue and other diseases paid heavy price for the negligence of quacks." Secretary Primary & Secondary Health Ali Jan Khan, Director General Dr Munir Ahmed, senior officers of the department and DDOs-Health of all the towns from the province attended the conference.
Kh. Imran Nazir further said that Punjab is proud on the success of EPI Programme which is the result of tireless efforts of the officers and the staff of the department due to which the routine immunization coverage in Punjab has crossed 80-percent. However, it can be reached up to 100-percent, if the community especially parents should cooperate with the health teams and took responsibility for giving basic right of health to their children.
The conference also evaluated the performance of deputy district officers for making the healthcare service delivery at town level. Moreover, a spokesman of the department has denied that the Integrated Reproductive Mother Newborn and Child Health (IRMNCH) Programme has purchased vehicles for the officers of the department.
The spokesman, while explaining the factual position, said the department has procured 427 new Suzuki Bolan ambulances which have been provided to 24/7 Basic Health Units under Rural Imbalance Service for pregnant women in rural areas.