Health facilities for women, children: US providing assistance for upgradation of RHCs, says Wyatt

The United States has been providing assistance and co-operation to Pakistan to improve health facilities especially for the women and children. This was stated by Dr Marilyn Wyatt, wife of American Ambassador to Pakistan on Tuesday, while talking to newsmen during her visit to Aziz Bhatti Shaheed, Rural Health Center Mandra (RHC) some 50km from here.
The RHC Mandra has been upgraded and renovated with the financial assistance and technical co-operation from United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The USAID provided assistance for the upgradation of 110 RHCs in 24 districts of the country and the Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) programme.
This was a six-year, USAID-funded project aimed at building the capacity of the existing health system and fostering a community-based approach to ensure a continue of care for mothers and newborns. The project is aimed at increasing awareness and informed decision making across all levels of the health systems.
The PAIMAN has begun working in 10 districts across all four provinces in Pakistan in 2004 and now it is working in 24 districts across the country with USAID assistance of dollars 92.8 million. Through USAID funding, the PAIMAN has up-graded RHC Mandra Tahsil Gujar Khan while the Punjab government has also renovated RHC Mandra through Health Sector Reform programme.
Under the PAIMAN the residential portion and the labour room of the RHC Mandra have been renovated. Appreciating the performance of RHC Mandra, Dr Marilyn Wyatt said, "this center is a good example of what Pakistan and the United States can accomplish in the healthcare sector when we work in partnership with each other."
Recognizing the importance and contribution of local community in improving health care system, Dr Wyatt said the community has approved that with its co-operation any project could be made more feasible. Dr Wyatt said, "It is an amazing success story of people to people partnership to improve health facilities at this RHC." She said it was also heartening to note that this success story is being replicated in other parts of the country.
Appreciating the contribution of local community, she said, it was also important for the success story of this project. Highlighting the role of Lady Health Workers, Dr Wyatt said, it is one of the unique and excellent programme she has seen in Pakistan. She appreciated the contribution of Lady Health Workers and said that it was new for her as it is not even in United States.
Showing her keen interest in the welfare of women and children, Dr Wyatt said, "I always take interest in welfare of Pakistan's women and always ready to help them." She also appreciated the efforts of Dr Nabeela, Dr Khalil and other team of the RHC for their excellent work they are doing at this center. Incharge of RHC Dr Khalil briefed Dr Wyatt about the assistance from the USAID, now this center has been playing important role in providing health care to the mothers and new born children besides providing emergency medical treatment.