LAHORE – United Nation’s Fund for Population Affairs (UNFPA) will cooperate for improving health facilities in Punjab’s rural areas and will provide financial assistance for making the rural health centres functional. These views were expressed by the members of a delegation of UNFPA while talking to the Punjab Health Secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad in a meeting on Wednesday.
The delegation comprised of UNFPA representatives; Rabbi Royan, Provincial Head Dr Jameel and Project Director Dr Akhtar Rasheed. Fawad briefed the delegation regarding the steps taken by the provincial government and Punjab chief minister for the provision of medical facilities to the people and health sector’s up-gradation. He also briefed the delegation regarding the millennium development goals (MDGs).
The delegation appreciated the efforts of the Punjab Health Department for achieving the MDGs. Rabbi Royan said that UNFPA will cooperate in improving health delivery system in the rural areas of the province and for ensuring round the clock functioning of RHCs and BHUs in seven districts, and the programme will be replicated in the remaining districts of the province.
Moreover, UNFPA will provide one ambulance to each rural health centre, which will help minimise the mortality rate of ‘mother and child’ during delivery. The delegation also expressed willingness to extend financial assistance for the ongoing projects up to December 2011.
