LAHORE: Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Kh Salman Rafique has said that Mother, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) week is being observed in Punjab from November 23 to November 28, 2015.
He said that the purpose of observing this week is to improve the mother & child health, control maternal mortality rate and create awareness among the masses especially rural folk regarding the principles of hygiene to promote healthy society.
He said this, while inaugurating MNCH Week at Govt Model Town Hospital, here on Monday.
The MNCH Week has been organized by the Punjab Health Department in collaboration with UNICEF.
Kh.
Salman Rafique said that unfortunately Pakistan stands in those countries where the maternal mortality rate is very high which is a matter of concern for the government and Punjab government is taking solid steps to overcome this very important issue.
He said that Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has been focusing on the health sector development and EPI routine coverage has been improved substantially by implementing the Chief Minister Health Roadmap Programme.
Presently, routine immunization coverage is about 75 percent in Punjab which will be further improved in coming months.
He said as the winter season has been started therefore, inoculation pneumonia vaccine to the children is essential to prevent the children from this seasonal disease.
Kh Salman Rafique said that 700 basic health units have been providing round the clock labour room facilities under 24/7 programme so that pregnant women should benefit the availability of trained staff for delivery and to avoid risking her life and that of expected child at the hands of traditional untrained birth attended.
On this occasion, it was informed that Lady Health Workers will visit door to door for creating awareness among the women and immunization of children and pregnant women against pneumonia, measles, polio and tetanus would also be carried out.
During this week, Lady Health Workers would administer de-worm tablets to the children of two to five years of age.
Doctors, nurses, LHVs and Community midwives would perform medical checkup of pregnant women and guide them for regular medical checkup as well as balanced diet.
During mother & child health week, screening of children, pregnant and lactating women should also be conducted to examine the malnutrition among them.
