President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday said maternal and child healthcare was the foundation of development of a society and called upon the Saarc countries for collective efforts to address the important social issue. Addressing at the inauguration of regional conference on mother and child healthcare, the President said the Saarc states could work together towards a better and prosperous South Asia by setting aside their differences and working unitedly.
The conference 'Lessons from South Asia' organised by Ministry of National Health Science and Regulations was attended by health experts from Saarc countries including Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Afghanistan and Bhutan. The President said the contiguity and similar socio-economic conditions of Saarc countries could better help them resolve the social problems of identical nature.
He said Pakistan was giving top priority to the health of mother and child and was striving to ensure provision of maternal and neonatal healthcare facilities particularly to the people living below poverty line. Mamnoon Hussain mentioned the government's 10-point action plan in consultation with provincial governments, which he said incorporated all aspects of mother and child healthcare to help achieve the objectives of sustainable development.
He said the comprehensive action plan had been useful in improving the mother-child healthcare facilities at the levels of basic health units and district hospitals. The President said focus was also being laid on the dietary needs of mother and child, particularly baby girls. "We are determined to ensure provision of the needed resources for this purpose but the success of these efforts requires an integrated monitoring system and commitment of the political leadership at all levels," he said.
President Mamnoon Hussain expressed satisfaction over the several useful programmes on mother and child healthcare underway in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. However, he stressed the need to expand the reach of projects to maximum number of people in the region. The President said Pakistan aimed at formulating policies to bring all stakeholders on a common platform and undertake measures to reduce the maternal and infant mortality rates. "We should make it our objective to reach every mother and child to ensure provision of equal healthcare facilities to them," he said.
In this regard, he said it was essential to follow the fundamental guidelines ordained by Allah Almighty requiring parents to nourish their children in the best possible manner and develop in them a strong character. The President expressed hope that the participants of the conference would put up proposals to guide the SAARC countries in policy-making and in devising appropriate strategies for the judicious use of resources.
Minister of State for National Health Saira Afzal Tarar said the country's Mother and Child Healthcare Programme 2016-2025 was aimed at the uplift of marginalized sections of society. She said the government was giving high priority to provide healthcare facilities to mother and children and called for a multi-sectoral approach to address the issue.
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