50 model dispensaries for institutional deliveries to be established in Tharparkar

Karachi- Provincial Minister for Health, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho recently conducted a meeting with the members of People's Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI) and District Health Officers (DHO), wherein she stated that the Sindh Health Department had been planning to establish 50 model dispensaries with the help of PPHI, to implement institutional deliveries and to encourage pregnant women of our society to visit these dispensaries instead of opting for home deliveries.

The Chief Executive Officer of PPHI Mr Ghulam Ali Soomro, Director General Health Sindh Dr Mubeen Ahmed, Director HR PPHI Mr Javed A. Abro, and Dr Zeb Dahar also attended the meeting.

Dr Azra further mentioned that these proposed dispensaries would operate round the clock in certain areas of District Tharparkar, by a well trained staff in order to provide better care to the visiting patients. CMWs would also be hired to facilitate the birthing stations at these dispensaries. Moreover, she discussed the importance of routine immunization, and how PPHI should hire more vaccinators to readily overcome shortage of staff.

Minister Dr Azra Pechuho expressed strong opinions regarding how family planning should be made a part of institutional deliveries, and that pregnant women should be encouraged to understand and follow family planning.

Furthermore, while discussing the current status of Sindh's health facilities, she agreed upon improving the infrastructure of the health system, whilst fulfilling the gap of human resources to provide better health services to the people of Sindh.

She also accepted the suggestion regarding giving access of certain cold chain storage facilities under District Health Officers to PPHI; and to work on the public/private partnership program, to improve their performance and attain prompt availability of vaccines.

Dr Azra Pechuho requested all officials to co-ordinate with one another to achieve the health department's goal.