Japan has decided to extend financial support of US$ 106,973 (Rs 9 million) to Shehri Ijtamai Taraqiati Council (SHATAC) for the construction of a mother and child primary health unit in district Mandi Bahauddin.
The agreement for the project was signed on Friday between Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Hiroshi OE, and Abdul Hameed Blund, President of SHATAC, at the latter’s residence in Islamabad.
The purpose of the project is to fill the serious vacuum in terms of maternal and child health care facilities in the project area free of cost or at reasonable rates. By this project, most vulnerable segment of the society in Mandi Bahauddin and its surroundings will be able to benefit from the basic health services.
This maternity home, equipped with all necessary instruments, is expected to provide services to 50,000 families per year in the area and also contribute to reduce maternal and infant mortality rate.
It is hoped that the number of women and children who have access to primary health care will further increase owing to the availability of efficient, affordable and good quality services in the health unit.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ambassador OE said that improving primary medical and health services was one of the priorities in Japan’s assistance policy towards Pakistan.
He hoped that this project would lead to improve the health status of the community of the project area by providing maternal and child health care at affordable prices and would certainly strengthen the existing friendly relations between the people of Japan and Pakistan.
