Lahore (Bureau Report)
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that if the daughters of Punjab stand firm and work with determination, they can change the destiny of the province, emphasizing that women of Punjab are second to none.
Addressing the passing-out ceremony of Community Health Workers in Lahore, the Chief Minister said that Punjab’s women are courageous and capable of transforming the province through their skills and dedication. She stated that women can achieve anything they set their minds to through hard work.
Maryam Nawaz announced that the government will no longer wait for patients to come to hospitals, but instead healthcare services will be taken directly to people’s doorsteps. “There will be no street, alley, or neighborhood left where our teams will not reach,” she said.
She added that once 25,000 Community Health Inspectors begin fieldwork, diseases will be significantly reduced across Punjab. She highlighted that field hospitals are already providing treatment by visiting villages, while the “Suthra Punjab” initiative has gained international recognition.
Addressing the health workers, the Chief Minister said their current salary stands at Rs 50,000 and encouraged them to prove themselves through performance, assuring them that salaries would be increased based on merit. “When you perform well, I will personally ensure your salaries are raised,” she said.
The Chief Minister further stated that her vision is to ensure people do not have to walk to hospitals, but that hospitals should come to the people. She noted that with the help of community health workers, the government will be able to identify emerging diseases across Punjab.
Maryam Nawaz also revealed that cardiology hospitals are being established across the province, adding that it was once unimaginable for a cardiology hospital to be built in Jhang. Concluding her address, she said, “One Maryam is standing before you today, and in front of me, I see many Maryams standing.”