The World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) has decided to develop and implement infection prevention, waste management and blood safety system in Larkana and Tharparkar districts. This decision was made in a follow up meeting with the WHO delegation led by EMRO regional director Dr Ahmed Salim Saif Al-Mandhari.
The Sindh chief minister said the provincial government was taking all out efforts to control further spread of HIV in Larkana and other districts. "The provincial government needs technical and expert support and advise from WHO so that problem can controlled once for all," CM said and added the rehabilitation of the affected people, particularly the children and women. "I want they must lead a normal and happy life," he told the delegation.
The WHO delegation head Dr Mandhari assured the chief minister that the WHO would provide technical support to streamline preventive services and support to set up critical prevention services like infection prevention, injections safety, waste management and blood safety.
He also committed with the chief minister that the WHO experts would develop capacity building of health care providers and workforce in treatment protocols, infection prevention, waste management and blood safety. He added that he would provide technical support to provincial government for developing proposals for resource mobilization. "WHO is fully committed to mobilize more resource and close working with Health Department," he assured.
The WHO delegation said they would provide technical support in donor conference to be hosted by Sindh government in Sep. "We will establish a unit in the health department under special secretary health," Dr Mandhari said.
Dr Rana said he would work with health department to establish infection prevention and control unit in health department with a regular budget, sustainability of activities.
In response to Dr Rana, CM also extended his full commitment from Sindh govt.
Dr Palitha said WHO he would be working with health department in waste management and infection prevention and would establish five demonstrations sited in five hospitals of Larkana. He said these sites would serve as training units to train health workforce.
Dr Sara talked about Dr Mandhari's 'RD EMR Vision of Health for All by All' and said this HIV outbreak has created an opportunity for all of us to work together closely. She further added the close coordination of health department and district management was necessary. "WHO will support in Tharparkar for establishment of nutrition stabilization centres, outreach activities and SDG compliance in taluka Islamkot," she said.
The chief minister thanked the delegation and WHO for their efforts, technical support and prompt response in Larkana and Tharparkar.
The other delegation members were EMRO director program management Dr Rana Ahmed Hajjeh El-Kebbi, head of mission to Pakistan Dr Palitha Mahipala, Sindh office head Dr Sara Salman, Principal Secretary to CM Sajjid Jamal Abro, special secretary health Hafeez Abbasi and others.