"Good Health & Well-being for All" scheme launched by Punjab Government
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LAHORE: (APP) The Punjab Government in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) & UNICEF Pakistan launched Sustainable Development Goal-3 titled "Good Health & Well-being for All" at its launching ceremony jointly organized by P&D and WHO in city on Thursday.
The aim of the launching is to reiterate the government's commitment towards achieving the health goals included in the SDGs and to provide a platform for the government and development partners. Pakistan being a member of the United
Nations signed the SDGs in 2015 and made a commitment to the 17 goals and 169 targets. All SDGs were integrated and at the heart lies the SDG Goal 3. Health and well being is the basic right of every individual and the Punjab Government remains committed to achieve the targets indicated under SDG 3.
The aim of the launch is also to create awareness amongst all relevant sectors, at all levels about the SDG-3 goal, its targets and how to effectively anchor them in provincial policies and programmes while reflecting on the challenges and lessons learnt from the MDGs.
Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Kh. Imran Nazir, Minister Population Welfare Zakia Shanazwaz, Jehanzaib Khan Chairman Planning and Development Punjab, Najam Ahmed Shah Secretary Specialized and Medical Education Department, Mukhtar Shah DG Health Services, Douglas G Higgins Chief of Field Office UNICEF, Duncan Selbe CEO Public Health England, Dr. Fakkar Imam VC FJMU, Dr. Rizwan Naseer DG Rescue 1122, Dr. Naeem ud Din Mian, CEO Contech International attended the ceremony.
Addressing the ceremony, Zakia Shahnwaz, Minister Population Welfare Punjab emphasized the need for different departments and organizations to working together and create crucial partnerships for the achievement of the SDGs.
Speaking about the PWD's achievements she mentioned the setting up of 117 health clinics attached to different THQs and DHQs, as well as the establishment of mobile units to provide family planning services. Along with rigorous awareness campaigns, both print and electronic, to increase visibility, these initiatives were only some of the actions taken to address the rapid rise of population in Punjab, she added.
The Minister also spoke about the need for continued support from different partners, not just in the form of funding but other technical assistance such as monitoring and community mobilization.
Chairman P&D Board Muhammad Jehanzaib Khan, in his address, thanked the World Health Organization and the UNICEF for collaborating with the P&DD for the organization of the event.
He said that consensus had to be built around the SDGs because basic health, well-being, security for the society and community was a multi-party agenda.
Secretary Specialized Health and Medical Education Najam Ahmed Shah spoke about the importance of the SDG-3 as a core requirement. He highlighted few initiatives such as a 38 percent increase in ADP budgets, specifically for education, health and saaf paani, as indicative of the government's dedication.
Douglas Higgins, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Punjab, speaking at the event supported the initiatives taken and the importance of effective management to continue improvements and build a healthier Punjab. He specifically appreciated the efforts about polio eradication in Pakistan and the significance of Punjab's reaching the polio-free status.
Duncan Selbe, CEO, Public Health England said that the British government was committed to working with the Pakistani government to improving health.
Mahmood Shaukat, Principal Allama Iqbal Medical College also spoke on the occasion.
The participants at the event appreciated the P&DD for taking the initiative to build a multi-sector consensus around the SDGs, particularly the health goal which was at the centre of the universal development agenda.
