US donates 40 ambulances to district health departments

The United States donated 40 ambulances for Dadu, Jafferabad, Vehari and Multan district health departments to help in saving the lives of those in need of urgent medical care, especially pregnant women and new-borns. "Access to medical services in emergencies is crucial to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality," said Miriam Lutz, a health officer at the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Dr Nabeela Ali Chief of party (paiman) addressing the ceremony said, "We hope that this donation will help in protecting the lives of mothers and their children in these districts in future". The US has donated 126 ambulances to health departments across Pakistan since 2007. The donation, valued at Rs 33 million, is part of the Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN), a six-year, $400,000 (Rs 7.7 billion) project funded by USAID that aims to build capacity of existing health system fostering a community-based approach.-PR