KARACHI- Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, recently spoke to a UNICEF delegation that included UNICEF Pakistan Country Representative Aida Girma, UNICEF Sindh Chief Field Officer Christina Brugido, Dominic Stolarow, Dr Syed Kamal Asghar and Dr Umer.
Upon discussing the condition of Thar, Dr Azra informed the delegation that Sindh Health Department is working on gradually establishing around 50 dispensaries in drought hit areas of Thar, to ensure proper facilitation of healthcare. She assured that the designated team is well-trained and will work round the clock to help the needy, while the complicated cases will be referred to District Level Hospitals. She also briefed the delegation regarding the initiatives taken by the Health Department to improve the health delivery system, and to combat diseases like malnutrition measles and polio.
On this occasion, UNICEF Country Representative Aida Girma assured assistance to the Minister Health of Technical and Financial Support in improving the working environment for LHWs. UNICEF has been providing global financing to improve child - mother health, they have put long terms plans in place to fight malnutrition in rural areas.
Furthermore, Dr Azra informed everyone that seminars and awareness campaigns regarding family planning and contraception were being conducted at university level, and that Sindh Health Department with the help of other stakeholders has made plans to provide health facilities and spread awareness amongst villagers.
She also expressed her gratitude towards the Chief Justice of Pakistan, for taking notice of the issue of the overly growing population of Pakistan.