During a committee meeting held on Thursday, the Interim Health Minister of Punjab, Dr. Javed Akram, unveiled a new government initiative mandating health screenings for all ninth-grade students, including checks for severe conditions like thalassemia. The proposal comes as part of the provincial government’s School Health Screening Project, aiming to safeguard current and upcoming generations against life-threatening illnesses.
The initiative, spearheaded by Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, underlines the government’s commitment to shielding children from grave health concerns. Upon assessment by the law department, the proposed legislation will be presented before the Punjab cabinet for final ratification. The execution of these comprehensive health checks is expected to fall under the purview of the Punjab Health Care Commission.
The project’s technical facets will undergo rigorous evaluation by the steering committee, which convened at the Department of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education. The committee, chaired by Dr. Akram and Dr. Jamal Nasir, addressed the logistical aspects of performing blood screenings on ninth-grade students across educational institutions in Punjab.
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Emphasizing the role of the Punjab Health Care Commission, the acting minister of the primary and secondary healthcare department stated that audits of all laboratories involved in the child health screening program would be conducted.
Dr. Akram shed light on the burdensome experience families endure when a member suffers from severe conditions such as thalassemia. He underscored that the proposed school health screening initiative provides parents with a proactive avenue to protect their children from lifelong health impairments.
