The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has formally launched a five-year project for improvement of maternal and new-borns health to be executed in collaboration with the Health Department at district Buner under Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and New-borns (Paiman).
The launching ceremony of Paiman for Buner was held at District Headquarters Hospital Daggar, Buner. NWFP Assembly Speaker Bakht Jahan Khan was the chief guest, while NWFP Health Minister Inayatullah was the guest of honour on the occasion.
Members of the national and provincial assemblies, NWFP Health Services Director General Dr Jalil-ur-Rahman, Buner District Co-ordination Officer Aurangzeb Khan, a large number of notables, opinion makers and representatives from different walks of life from the district attended the ceremony.
Health Minister Inayatullah while highlighting the achievements of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) government in health sector informed the audience about recently announced unprecedented incentives package for female healthcare providers working in the nine marginalised districts of the province, including Buner.
The minister vowed to develop NWFP as a role model. He appreciated the design of Paiman project which would provide mechanism for the effective involvement of government, elected representatives and communities to decide priorities for interventions by the project in the areas of maternal and new-borns health.
Bakht Jahan Khan lauded the provincial Health Department for taking the right step of including district Buner in Paiman project.
He assured all-possible support to Paiman team in effective implementation of the project activities.
Highlighting the objectives of the project, Dr Nabeela Ali, Chief, Paiman, informed that its main purpose is to improve the poor situation of health indicators related to maternal and neonatal health in the district.
She explained that Paiman project would be implemented through a consortium-led by John Snow Inc, a famous US-based international organisation with wide experience of working in many countries of the world.
She also said that other consortium partners to work in NWFP would include Save the Children US, Contech International Health Consultants, the Aga Khan University, Greenstar Social Marketing and Population Council of Pakistan.
Dr Nabeela said that Paiman was a unique project due to its flexible design that would ensure effective participation of provincial and district governments as well as all the stakeholders in healthcare in planning and implementation.
"Main interventions under Paiman project would be in the areas of strengthening healthcare delivery system both in public and private sectors, provision of 24-hour emergency obstetrical care, capacity-building of health staff and community-based interventions to improve accessibility to healthcare services," she said.
Appreciating the commitment of NWFP government and its pioneering steps taken to improve the condition of maternal and child health in the province, she hoped that it would help in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
It is recalled that USAID under Paiman would spend about $50 million in 10 selected districts of Pakistan to improve the maternal and new-borns health.
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