At a time when state-run healthcare facilities in the province are lacking proper equipment for emergency care for newborns, the US has came forward to donate ten modern incubators to the Sindh Health Department that would be provided to seven government hospitals of the province.
The much-needed incubators essential for the survival of babies born under emergency conditions have been offered by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
At a ceremony held on Friday at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), US Consul General William Martin handed over the incubators to provincial Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed.
Two of the 10 incubators donated to the Health Department would be provided to the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department of the JPMC.
Speaking at the ceremony, the US consul general said that these incubators will assist in saving the lives of newborn babies and allow the JPMC among other hospitals of Sindh in improving the quality of emergency care for children. “Today marks another milestone in the US’ commitment to improve the healthcare system for the Pakistani people here in Sindh.”
Under the programme, the USAID will provide incubators to seven state-run hospitals of the province – Civil Hospital Karachi, Civil Hospital Mirpukhas, Civil Hospital Sanghar, Civil Hospital Dadu, Taluka Hospital Tando Adam and Ganga Bai Hospital Shikarpur and the JPMC. These are the hospitals that have a paediatric unit, a qualified paediatrician, a large number of births per facility, sufficient physical space, adequate electricity with backup generators and are genuinely in need of incubators.
On the occasion, Sindh health minister said that two consecutive years of natural calamities have wiped out 270 healthcare facilities across the province adding to the challenges of the Sindh government already being faced due to a severe financial crunch. “The donation would be of great help for the marginalised sections [of the society], who visit these government hospitals.”
He said that 126 healthcare facilities including building of some taluka hospitals were severely damaged during this year’s monsoon rains in 19 districts of the province while 144 were damaged during floods in 2010.
The minister also urged the ‘Friends of Democratic Pakistan’ to look into the issue.
Martin was hopeful that the incubators given to the Sindh Health Department would assist in saving newborn lives and help the recipient hospitals to improve the quality of their emergency obstetric care.
“The people of US government like their counterparts in Pakistan share the same views when it comes to human lives.”
With particular reference to the JPMC, the US consul general said that the US had a long history of collaboration with the hospital, which can be traced back to 1959 when the first educational programme [to be offered at the JPMC] was designed by the Indiana University.
