KARACHI, March 9: A task force has been constituted to ensure the implementation of Sindh Health Policy and to furnish further recommendations and strategies according to provincial needs.
The task force, headed by Additional Secretary (Technical) Health, will comprise Deputy Secretary (Admn-I) Dr Shireen Narejo, Deputy Secretary (Proc) Dr Hafeez Memon, Deputy Secretary (P&D) Dr M. Umer Abro, DGHSS Office, Hyderabad DGHSS, Director Public Health DGHSS Office Hyderabad, PHDC Hyderabad Dr Akbar Memon and Section Officer (Tech-I) Dr M. Jamil Mughal.
Under the recently announced provincial health policy, the national immunization days will continue to be observed till WHO certification and routine EPI facilities will be strengthened through GAVI's grant assistance.
The present modest performance of EPI will be rectified by strengthening the performance of the district health system and achieving a target of at least 80 per cent nationwide routine immunization coverage by the year 2007.
The routine immunization of HBV will also be increased substantially to eliminate the risk of children contracting the disease with heightened risk of chronic liver damage.
For control of HIV/AIDS, a comprehensive PC-1 had been approved by the ECNEC at federal level, which will cover the Sindh province that envisages financial support from the World Bank and technical support from the WHO and the UNAIDS.
Regarding Roll-back Malaria (RBM) Programme, all districts will be covered by June 2006 in order to reach the explicit goal of lowering the malaria burden by half in Sindh by the year 2010.
The provincial government will also initiate health awareness programmes relating to preventive aspects of cardiology, diabetes, mental illnesses, hypertension, hazards of tobacco use and promotion of healthy lifestyles.
Besides, a sufficient quantity of ASV and ARV injections will be ensured at all district and taluka hospitals, while emphasis will be given to eliminate street dogs, which is much easier and cheaper way of saving the huge expenditure of curative side.
To counter malnutrition, food safety, food security, food fortification and eliminating micro nutrient deficiency relating to Vitamin-A, iron and iodine will be the main strategies to be employed through a well-coordinated efforts at the provincial and district levels.
STD CLINICS: As a part of the health policy, the health department will establish clinics of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) for diagnosing cases and providing health education at district level.
Blood banks will be established at all district and taluka hospitals and Safe Blood Transfusion Act will be implemented in letter and spirit. Planning exercise for safety of injection programmes, assistance in provision of anti-retroviral drugs, promotion of safe blood transfusion will also be ensured.
The recent outbreak of HIV/AIDS amongst injectable drug users is a cause for concern warranting up-scaling of efforts in the province. The prevalence of Hepatitis-B infection in general population in Sindh is about three per cent, while that of Hepatitis-C is about four per cent, which is higher than the reported world average.
This can be achieved by reducing the risk of HCV transmission from blood transfusions, unsafe injection practices, intravenous drug use, unsafe use of blades by barbers, use of un-sterilized equipment by dental surgeons, use of tattoo marks and unethical practices on part of quacks.
The health department will make necessary legislation to curb quackery with the support of professional bodies like Pakistan Medical Association. Besides, the health policy also envisages ban on advertisement and publicity of un-authorized, unregistered, spurious and sex stimulating drugs in the province.
ROAD SAFETY: The health department will collaborate with the home department, police department and other agencies in a serious effort to ensure the restricted issuance of driving licenses to reduce the risks to human life. Furthermore, a trauma centre will be established in the mega city to handle mass casualties and disasters.
The issue of imposing mandatory health insurance will be explored in an effort to identify alternate sources of health sector financing without posing an additional burden on the masses. -PPI
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