'Health, edu priority of govt'

ISLAMABAD (APP) - Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday said health and education were the priority areas on which the government was completely focused.
Our National Health Policy, he said, has been prepared in accordance with the actual needs of the common man ensuring both quality and quantity. The Prime Minister was talking to Dr Hussein A. Gezairy, Regional Director of WHO, who is currently in Pakistan to see the progress of WHO programmes. The meeting was held here at the PM House on Monday. The Prime Minister said, The government has also prioritised specific areas within the health sector like hepatitis, polio, lever, kidney and heart diseases.
In this context, he added that he had already directed the Ministry of Health to ensure clear visibility of targets laid down, within three months.
The high political commitment of the government to improve health facilities, the Prime Minister said, would definitely help improve the health of people as well as the standard of health facilities.
As regards transplantation of essential body parts, the Prime Minister mentioned that the Parliament had already passed legislation, which would help people suffering from fatal diseases.
The Prime Minister appreciated the WHO initiative to help establish the National Health Emergency Preparedness Centre in Pakistan to meet any emergency.
He also thanked the WHO for their timely support during earthquake of 2005 and for the IDPs. He asked for WHO assistance in the immunisation programmes and treatment of diseases like hepatitis.
Dr Hussein A. Gezairy, Regional Director of WHO said that Pakistan was one of the counties which was not only speedily learning about health standards but also implementing the relevant health programmes.
He specifically appreciated the governments commitment to eradicate polio as well as concern for the hepatitis. The basic development need programme started in Pakistan, he said, would surely involve the community at local level to identify the health requirements.
Dr Hussein A. Gezairy apprised the Prime Minister of the WHO initiative to establish the National Health Emergency Preparedness Centre in Pakistan which would also serve the region.
Besides WHO also plans to establish the Medicine Warehouse at Gwadar to keep stock of needs not only for Pakistan but the region including Gulf countries.
The National Health Emergency Preparedness Centre would provide training, medicines, equipment and mobilisation of resources to meet any emergency if it occurs at large scale.
Similarly the Medicine Warehouse would be able to store medicines and basic health equipment like syringes for supply in any area where there is shortage.
Minister for Health Makhdoom Shahbuddin and Secretary Health were also present in the meeting.