The United States Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson inaugurated the Maternal and Child Health Program (MCH) on behalf of the USAID , here on Friday.
An amount of $387 million has been allocated for the project.p
The ambassador and Sindh Health Secretary Inamullah Dharejo signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the implementation of this 5-year plan.
Under the initiative, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will support Pakistan’s efforts to deal with integrated family planning, maternal, newborn, and child health services, the aim of which is to ultimately reduce post and pre natal mortality rates.
Speaking on the occasion, the envoy said, “The main goal of the Maternal and Child Health Program, whose launch we observe today, is to dramatically reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.
The MCH Program aims to support innovative approaches to strengthen the capacity of Pakistan’s public and private sectors by delivering high-impact, evidence-based medical support such as service delivery, awareness raising, and health-system strengthening. The MCH Program will also provide technical assistance to the health and population sectors at the federal, provincial, and district levels to reform and improve outdated medical systems.
Another aim of the program is to aid in forging partnerships between international and local health experts and Pakistan’s vibrant private sector to bring cutting-edge health approaches and modern techniques to the country. Through these efforts, more women will have access to emergency obstetric care, modern contraception, and essential post-natal care. New mothers will also be provided with critical information regarding hygiene, nutrition, immunizations, and treatment of common illnesses for their children through this program.
The new MCH program continues a five-decade-old tradition of U.S. support to Pakistan in building and improving a quality healthcare system the ambassador further said. It is pertinent to mention that in the 1950’s the United States helped Pakistan establish the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).and has throughout its history, been the country’s prime supplier of medical and health related systems..