MoU signed to improve health services in Chitral

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed among the Provincial Health Department, District Government Chitral and Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan on Monday in Peshawar to hand over Rural Health Centre (RHC) Shagram, District Chitral to AKHS for efficient delivery of health care services through Public Private Partnership.
The MoU was signed in a special ceremony held in the Committee Room of Health Secretariat, Peshawar. Provincial Minister for Population Welfare, Salim Khan was the chief guest on the occasion. Secretary Health Dr Syed Sohail Altaf, District Nazim Chitral, Haji Maghifirat Shah, District Co-ordination Officer, Chitral Motasim Billah Shah and Chairman-AKHS, Dr Amin Delawala signed the MoU on behalf of the Health Department, District Government Chitral and AKHS respectively.
Chief Health Sector Reforms Unit, Dr Nasir Idress, Co-ordinator Health Sector Reforms Unit Dr Imtiaz Ali Shah and representatives of the AKHS were present on the occasion. Under the agreement, the government would hand over management of the existing infrastructure along with the budget allocations for the RHC Shagram to AKHS, while AKHS would be responsible for the provision of quality health services to the local community for the next five years.
In order to ensure participation of the local community in decision-making, a health committee would be established. The body would not only guarantee linkages between the community and the health facility but also make certain decisions for the protection of health rights of the local community.
It is recalled that Tehsil Torkhow, located about 120 kilometres to Northwest of Chitral town, have a total population of 45,000. There are three Basic Health Units (BHUs), two dispensaries and one Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Centre, run by the government. Similarly three health facilities are also being functioned under AKHS, at Shotkhar, Khot and Rech.
The government constructed a Rural Health Centre (RHC) at village Shagram in 2001 to cater for the needs of the local community. Despite repeated efforts, the RHC Shagram and especially the Maternal and Child Health services could not be functionalized completely. Non-availability of female health care providers remained main hurdle in its functioning.
In a bid to overcome this problem the Health Department ,District Govt Chitral and AKHS entered into an agreement. The pilot project was extremely successful and excellent services were extended to the inhabitants of Tehsil Torkhow at their door step.
The pilot project was evaluated by a high level committee of the Health department in light of the recommendations of the evaluation committee. Later on an MoU for provision of complete range of services at RHC Shagram, including MCH services, on the analogy of Nahaqi Model was developed.
Dr Alamgir Shah, Director Administration, Health department, Jalaluddin Meghani CEO-AKHS, Dr Syed Zulfiqar Ali, Ex CEO-AKHS, Dr Ali Murad, Director Chitral Health Board, Dr Zafar Ahmed, GM Punjab and Chitral, Rahimullah ,Manager Chitral, Dr Qayyum Ali Noorani Program Manager Health participated in the ceremony.