TAXILA: The Clinic-on-Wheels Project of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif was launched in Attock on Tuesday to extend health facilities to people, especially women and children, living in slums and semi-urban areas.

Deputy Commissioner Rao Atif Raza inaugurated the project in the presence of District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Asad Ismail, District Health Surveillance Officer Dr Talib Hussain, Medical Superintendent District Headquarters Hospital Dr Jawad Ellahi and other officials of the health department.

The DC assessed the provision of medical treatment and facilities and interacted with staff members. He also examined an ultrasound van and an ambulance designated for women for slum semi-urban areas. He supervised the working of the teams and got feedback from the public especially women and informed them about the health-friendly policy of the provincial government.

He directed the concerned district health authorities to send ambulances to slum areas phase-wise to cover the whole city. He said the administration would ensure the benefits of the project reached all the citizens.

Later while briefing media persons, Mr Raza said the introduction of the ‘Clinic-On-Wheels’ programme aimed to provide essential medical services to the underserved communities.

Responding to a question, he said that under the project three camps were established in which four teams had started operating in different parts of the city, each equipped with blood screening facility.

Briefing the participants, Dr Asad Ismail said doctors, LHVs and vaccinators would be available in the clinic on wheels along with ultrasound facilities. Medicines for hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB) and cardiac ailments would be provided to the patients at their doorsteps. “One of these clinics would be equipped with an ultrasonography facility,” he added.

Dr Saeed Akhter, focal person for the project, said the camps would provide the facilities of vaccination, antenatal care and treatment for malaria and diabetes.

The introduction of the project aims to provide essential medical services to the underserved, acknowledging the busy lives of citizens who struggle to prioritise their health.

“In addition, free OPD service and free delivery of medicines, free antenatal check-up, free ultrasound service for pregnant women, vaccination for children, pregnant women, malnutrition assessment and family planning service would be provided to patients at these camps,” he added.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2024