Punjab Health Services Director General Dr. Mukhtar Hussain Syed chaired the Provincial Child Survival Group meeting on Wednesday to review the strategies to reduce child mortality caused by pneumonia and diarrhea.
UNICEF representative Dr Mushtaq Rana introduced a new project which is being launched in Punjab, with funding and support of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on childhood pneumonia and diarrhea.
The meeting was attended by provincial representatives of international development agencies UNICEF, WHO, Gates Foundations, World Food Program and UNFPA, officials of Policy and Strategic Planning Unit, IRMNCH, Pakistan Pediatric Association and EPI Program representatives.
UNICEF representative said that pneumonia and diarrhea are major causes of child mortality in Punjab. The incidence of pneumonia and diarrhea was reported to be highest in the post neo-natal age group.
The DG health formed a five-member core group from among the key stakeholders comprising representatives of Policy and Strategic Planning Unit, IRMNCH Program WHO, UNICEF and Pakistan Pediatrics Association that will hold regular meetings under the leadership of the Punjab government for oversight of Child Survival Group. The core group will report progress in the group meeting.
UNICEF experts shared that the child mortality can be reduced by implementing the recommendations of Integrated Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhea (GAPPD) which provides an integrated frame work of key interventions – proven globally to effectively prevent and treat childhood pneumonia and diarrhea.
The UNICEF representative gave detailed update to the DG health on the nature of projects the UNICEF is implementing, and highlighted the cross-sectoral programme approach that involves nutrition, WASH, HIV/AIDS, Health and Education with focus on front-line delivery for vulnerable populations. PSPU representative Dr. Saira Khan presented TORs of the Child Survival Group & responsibilities of different partners.
WHO representative gave an overview of the mandate of WHO, and the support it has been providing to the provincial government in preventive, curative and overarching programs.