KARACHI: Sindh Cabinet met under chairmanship of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah approved procurement of 60 ambulances, including 30 mobile medicals, cleared breastfeeding law to ensure breastfeeding of children for three years and upgraded posts of JPMC from grade 9 to 14 and onward.

Ministers, advisors, special assistants, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, AG Sindh Hassan Akbar, Fayaz Jatoi attended meeting.

Sindh Minister Health Dr Azra Pechuho briefing Cabinet said that there was need for procurement of 60 ambulances, including 30 mobile medical vans and five mobile laboratories for which Rs 2 billion were required.

Cabinet was told that purpose of procuring ambulances, medical vans and laboratories was to link Gaucher's Diseases (GDs) with Primary/Secondary care, rapid medical assessment and treatment, transport patients and supporting mass casualty incidents.

It was pointed out mobile medical units would be utilised where medical facilities were limited or inaccessible. Mobile laboratory would be used in disease outbreak investigation, rapid diagnostic testing, surveillance and monitoring, environmental testing and support for field hospitals and medical teams. Ambulances would be included in fleet of Rescue 1122. Cabinet approved request and funds for purpose.

Dr. Azra said that it was expedient to ensure safe and adequate nutrition for infants and young children up to age of 36 months by promoting protecting and supporting breastfeeding, promoting healthy diets to prevent obesity and non-communicable diseases and regulating marketing and promotion of designated products including breast milk substitutes of feeding bottles, valves for feeding bottles, nipple shields, teats and pacifiers.

Under act, government would establish 22-member board under chairperson Standing Committee on Health, Sindh Assembly. Functions of board include framing regulations, advising standards of designated products and proposing guidelines to government to establish an effective Monitoring System as per WHO/UNICEF protocol.

Dr. Azra told Cabinet that there was sanctioned strength of 1,975 Specialist Cadre Doctors (BS-18), against which only 947 were working and 1,028 were vacant.

Minister said that medical officers, BS-17, having postgraduate degrees in relevant field could be posted against posts of special cadre B-18, to meet shortage of doctors and smooth running of hospitals in province.

Cabinet acknowledging services of Dr. Sikandar Mendhro named Civil Hospital Badin after late Dr Sikadar Mandhro. Minister for Minorities Affairs Gianchand Israni presented draft Act. Committee comprised Minister Excise and Taxation Mukesh Chawala, Minister Excise Gianchand, Advisor Law Murtaza Wahab and Advocate General Hassan Akbar.

Minister Transport, Sharjeel Memon through video link briefing Cabinet said that his department would induct 500 more buses in 'Peoples Bus Service' to facilitate poor segment of society.

Labour Minister Saeed Ghani presented an amendment in Section 9 of Sindh Workers Welfare Fund Act, 2014 under which the position of Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of Worker Welfare Board has been declared as floating post of BS-19 or BS-20.

Published in The Daily National Courier, June, 06 2023

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