The Department of Health NWFP and Save the Children (an international NGO) Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for improvement of Primary Health Care facilities in the earth quake-hit district of Batgram to provide efficient health services to the dwellers of the area.
The MoU was signed in a special ceremony held at the Health Secretariat in Peshawar. The NWFP Minister for Health, Inayatullah was the chief guest on the occasion. Provincial Secretary for Health, Abdussamad, DCO Batgram Aminul Haq and Country Director Save the Children, Michel Grath signed the MoU.
Director Health, Dr Rohullah Jan, Acting Chief of Health Sector Reforms Unit (HSRU), Dr Nasir Idrees, Provincial Manager Save the Children, Dr Zia Dawr, WHO Provincial Chief, Dr Saeed Akbar, HSRU Co-ordinator, Dr Imtiaz and others high-ups of the Health Department were present.
Commenting on the agreement, the Provincial Health Minister said it was aimed at developing best possible model of public private partnership extendable to others districts of the province.
According to the agreement, the project stretching over a period of 2-year will cost 3 million-dollar. The JSDF (Japan Social Development Fund will provide financial assistance for the project. Under the project all components of primary health, including improvement of preventive, promotive and curative health will be focused.
The executing agency, will initiate efforts for revitalisation of Primary Health Care services through static facilities, mobile units and community based workers in Battagram District. The initiatives will include maternal/child immunisation, prenatal, obstetrical, and postpartum care and family planning services.
Similarly diagnosis/treatment of major infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, basic curative services, nutritional support, therapeutic feeding and breast-feeding will be promoted.
Moreover participation in immunisation drive, carrying out public health functions and disease surveillance to response the epidemics will be among components of the project. The implementing agency will try to rehabilitate and operational of RHCs (Rural Health Centres) and BHUs (Basic Health Units) by carrying out a rapid assessment, enhancing Primary Health Care services and staff living facilities in the prioritised BHUs.
It will fill essential staff gaps, establish an effective referral system and build capacity of health care providers. Save the Children will also organise mobile delivery service for valleys where provision of services is not feasible.
The executive agency will reorganise the community-based Primary Health Care services by rehabilitating Lady Health Workers (LHWs) and their health houses, recruiting and training additional female health workers. The agency will functionalism local health committees and undertake refresher training of LHW supervisors with special focus on support to the handicapped people.
The executing agency will provide technical assistance for enhancing the capacity of district Health Management Team and strengthen the referral system with DHQ Hospital in the District.
It will also initiate interventions for earthquake affected health workers, including counselling to overcome the mental trauma, short-term on the job training and performance based incentives. It will be responsibility of the agency to carry out evaluation and monitoring to measure intermediate outcomes of the project, while the Health Department will be bound to transfer the salary and non-salary budget of all Primary Health Care services to implementing agency.
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