UNFPA to provide financial assistance to upgrade RHCs in Punjab

The United Nations Fund for Population Affairs (UNFPA) would extend full co-operation to the Punjab government for further improving health facilities in the rural areas of the province and would also provide financial assistance for making the rural health centres functional round the clock in as many as 36 districts of the province.
This was stated by the members of a delegation of UNFPA while talking to Punjab Health Secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad here on Wednesday. The delegation members, comprising representative of UNFPA Rabbi Royan, provincial head Dr Jameel and project director Dr Akhtar Rasheed, discussed with the health secretary facilities available in rural health centres of the province and desired to further improve the facilities, sources told Business Recorder.
They said that UNFPA would provide one ambulance to each rural health centre so that serious patients could be shifted to hospitals. It would help minimise mortality rate of 'mother and child' during delivery. The UNFPA delegation also expressed willingness to extend financial assistance for the ongoing projects up to December 2011.
The Health Secretary briefed the UNFPA delegation regarding steps taken by the provincial government for provision of medical facilities to the people and especially highlighted the initiatives taken by Punjab Chief Minister for the up-gradation of health sector. He also informed the delegation regarding the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The UNFPA delegation appreciated the efforts of Punjab Health Department for achieving the MDGs and assured maximum co-operation in this regard. Rabbi Royan said that UNFPA would extend every possible of co-operation to improve the health delivery system in the rural areas of the Punjab and the experience of 24 hours (24/7) functioning of RHCs and BHUs in seven districts would be replicated in the remaining districts of the province. The Health Secretary thanked the delegation for extending co-operation in the up-gradation of health delivery system in rural areas and for further improving the health facilities to the far-flung areas.