Lahore, December, 07; Discussing the problems faced during immunization campaigns in the flood hit areas, the Members of the Punjab Assembly resolved to move a resolution in the House to overcome these challenges.

The pledge was made at a special briefing organised by PILDAT which was chaired by Honourable Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Deputy Speaker Provincial Assembly of the Punjab and Patron of the Caucus of MPAs of Punjab on Immunization.

Briefing the MPAs, Dr. Muhammad Mushtaq Hussain of UNICEF discussed in detail the EPI in general and the state of affairs in Punjab. He talked about Programme Significance (globally / in Pakistan), its history in Punjab, objectives, targeted diseases & immunization schedule, Modes of service delivery, Current coverage & reasons of low coverage.

Dr. Arshad Iqbal Dar, Director Health Services Punjab, in his presentation to the gathering emphasized upon the need of the law makers to play more effective part in the oversight of the immunization campaigns. He was of the opinion that without political will desired results from these immunization campaigns cannot be achieved.

Dr. Asad Ashraf, MPA, Ex chairman, Chief Minister�s Task Force on Health and convener PILDAT Parliamentary Caucus on Immunization, gave an overview of immediate response in the wake of floods in Punjab. He praised the steps taken by the Punjab government and informed that the Provincial Health Directorate had moved the offices of the EPI staff to the Muzaffarghrah to cater to the needs of the worst flood hit areas. He opined that after the passage of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, Health is now a provincial subject and more pro active approach from the provincial legislators is needed.

Addressing the participants, Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, MPA, Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab and Patron PILDAT Parliamentary Caucus of MPAs of Punjab on Immunization, said that the magnitude of this disaster was huge and even bigger than hurricane Katrina. He praised the efforts of not only the Government of the Punjab but also the Members of the Punjab Assembly that they came together to help the victims across board and across party lines. He said that the Government could not meet with this challenge alone and all sectors of the society have to come forward and contribute. He thanked PILDAT for providing the platform where the Members of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab could debate these issues above part lines. He asked PILDAT to arrange another meeting in which he asked the MPAs to come prepared with their suggestions to cope with the issues in the flood hit areas more effectively.

During the brief question answer session Major Zulfiqar Ali Gondal, MPA, suggested that a column should be added to the Benazir Income Support Programme form to collect data about the number of children who have been immunized and those who still needed to be administered the polio vaccine.

Syeda Bushra Nawaz Gardezi, MPA, emphasized the need to involve the Lady Health Workers in the immunization campaign. Ms. Nasem Lodhi, MPA suggested that Hepatitis C should also be included in the Immunization programme.

Mr. Mohsin Khan Leghari, MPA and Mr. Mian Muhammad Shafiq, MPA, stressed the need for empowering the Executive District Officers (EDO) and stricter accountability and transparency of the EDOs.

Earlier, PILDAT Project Manager Mr. Faheem Ahmed Khan opened the session and said that PILDAT had formed the caucus of lawmakers in June 2010 which had already met three times earlier to discuss the EPI programme in Pakistan with special reference to Punjab. Today�s session is to be focused on in-depth discussions on problems faced during the immunization campaigns in flood hit areas and the way forward. The outbreak of epidemics in many areas had necessitated a strategy to overcome the problem, and the briefing is aimed at involving the lawmakers, media and civil society activists in the process of creating awareness among the masses in this regard.

The MPAs who attended the briefing session included: Mr. Abdul Hafeez Khan Niazi (PML-N, PP-43), Ms. Afshan Farooq (PML-N, W-302), Ms. Naseem Lodhi (PML,W-347), Mr. Javed Awan (PML-N, PP-39), Dr. Asad Ashraf (PML-N,PP-138), Mr. Sher Ali Khan (PML, PP-17), Eng. Qamar-ul-Islam (PML,PP-5), Ms. Shameela Aslam (PML-N, W-318), Ms. Rahat Ajmal (PML-N, W-326), Ms Mehmuda Cheema (PML-N, W313), Ms Sakina Shaheen Khan (PML-N, W-321), Ms. Kiran Dar (PML-N, W-312), Ms. Nafisa Amin (PML-N, W-301), Mr. Iftikhar Ali (PPPP, PP-266), Dr. Zamur Yasmin Rana (PML-N,W-317), Mr.Ch Awais Qasim Khan (PML-N, PP-132), Ms. Arifa Khalid (PML-N, W-305), Ms. Nazia Raheel (PML-N, PP-88), Mr. Muhammad Tariq Amin Hotiana (PPPP, PP-278), Mr. Rana Ejaz Ahmed Noon (PPPP, PP-209), Mr.Shahzad Rasool Khan (PPPP, PP-260), Ms. Sajida Mir (PPPP, W-336), Ms. Riffat Sultana Dar (PPPP, W-340), Ms. Ayesha Javed (PML, W-355), Ms. Fozia Behram (PPPP, W-333), Mr. Mohsin Khan Leghari (PML, PP-245), Mr. Khurram Ejaz Chatha (PML-N, PP-163), Mr. Rana Munawar Ghaus Khan (PPPP, PP-36), Mr. Meher Ejaz Ahmed Achlana (PML-N, PP-265), Ms Asifa Farooqi (PPPP, W-329), Mr. Ch. Awais Midhana (PPPP, PP-31), Ms. Faiza Malik (PPPP, W-343), Ms. Talat Yaqoob (PPPP, W-335), Ms. Joyce Rufin Julius (PML,W-370), Ms. Safina Saima Khar (PPPP, W-338), Mr. Mian Muhammad Shafique (PPPP, PP-207), Ms. Anjum Safdar (PML-N, W-304), Mr. Major. Zulfiqar Ali Gondal (PPPP, PP-118), Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, (PML-N, PP-149).