Lahore, August 09, 2021 (PPI-OT):Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid met Mission of the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization here on Friday to discuss the pace of immunization coverage in Punjab. GAVI Country Manager Alexa Reynolds and members of the international developments partners discussed a number of key health issues with the Minister. Present in the meeting were Additional Chief Secretary Iram Bukhari, Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Sarah Aslam, Additional Secretary P and SH Department Dr. Asim Altaf, Director General Health Service Punjab Dr. Haroon Jehangir, Director Expanded Program on Immunization Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed and members of partner organizations.

The representatives of World health Organization and UNICEF attended the meeting. The main agenda was performance of the Expanded Program on Immunization and way forward for improving immunization coverage in Punjab. Country Representative GAVI Alexa Reynolds appreciated the efforts of Punjab Expanded Program on Immunization for improvement in immunization coverage to 89% as per latest surveys. The Health Minister said, “The support of GAVI has been extremely important in improving healthcare services in Punjab. We will further improve immunization coverage with the support of GAVI as they has always provided support to the government.

The EPI Program deserves appreciation for taking the immunization coverage to over 89%. Punjab is currently leading the coverage in Pakistan.” Additional Chief Secretary Iram Bukhari said the ownership from administrative departments helped improve immunization coverage and the administrative teams are committed to controlling vaccine preventable diseases. GAVI representative Alexa Reynolds said GAVI would continue to support the Punjab especially EPI Program and efforts of the EPI Program are praiseworthy.

For more information, contact:
Directorate General Public Relations,
Government of the Punjab
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-9201390-86
Website: www.punjab.gov.pk