By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said the provincial government believes in proactive governance rather than responding after problems arise, stressing that preventive healthcare lies at the core of her administration’s vision.
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She was addressing the launching ceremony of the Community Health Inspectors programme, where she said that once 55,000 community health inspectors are deployed across Punjab, diseases will be pushed out of the province. “The government no longer waits for people to come to it; instead, it goes door to door,” she said, adding that prevention is far less painful than treatment after illness has taken hold.
The chief minister said that when mothers, sisters and daughters come forward to serve in the field, no one can defeat Punjab. She termed the Community Health Inspectors initiative a transformative step and said Punjab’s women possess the strength and determination to change the province’s destiny.
Congratulating Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare Khawaja Imran Nazir, the health secretary and their team, Maryam Nawaz praised their efforts in making the programme a reality. She said the inspectors have undergone months of training and are now ready to serve humanity by delivering healthcare at the grassroots level.
Calling the community health inspectors her “eyes, ears and pride,” the chief minister said Punjab is becoming self-reliant in multiple sectors by the grace of Allah, with women playing a defining role in development and improved public health outcomes.
She said nearly 30 million people have already received medical treatment through clinics-on-wheels and field hospitals. Under the new programme, community health inspectors will conduct basic diagnostic tests, including blood sugar checks, and administer injections.
Maryam Nawaz said she personally took interest in designing the inspectors’ uniforms and approving their toolkits. She added that 25,000 individuals have already been provided employment under the programme at a monthly salary of Rs50,000, noting that those who demonstrate strong performance will receive further salary increases.
The chief minister said the programme will create a digital health profile for every household, enabling early disease detection and maintaining complete medical records through digital systems. Patients will be examined and referred to relevant hospitals where required.
“The time has come when people do not have to come to the government; the government itself comes to them,” she said, adding that protecting the dignity and respect of women working in the field is a collective responsibility.
Highlighting broader healthcare reforms, she said free medicines for cancer and heart diseases are being provided, while cardiology institutes have been established in Sargodha, Sahiwal and Murree. She added that a cath lab is operational in Jhelum and similar facilities will soon be launched in Jhang.
Referring to the ‘Suthra Punjab’ initiative, she said sanitation teams are also going door to door, terming it a strong example of effective governance. “It is my dream that no patient visiting a government hospital ever faces hardship,” she said, reaffirming her commitment to comprehensive healthcare for the people of Punjab.
Concluding her address, the chief minister told community health inspectors that their role is not just a job but a mission to serve humanity.
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