Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and US Ambassador David Hale Thursday inaugurated Rs 328 million maternity ward project at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The 120-bed facility replaces an older one that has only 80 beds. The USAID has also funded Rs 356 million obstetrics/gynaecology ward at the JPMC, inaugurated in December 2012.
Addressing the ceremony, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah thanked the US government for support in health and education sector. He said 160 primary schools are being built in the province with the support of the USAID. "The gift given by the USAID in the shape of maternity ward at JPMC is marvellous," the chief minister said. "America and Pakistan have worked together for many years to solve big challenges such as improving access to high quality healthcare. The buildings are symbols of our partnership," Ambassador Hale said.
He said that newly-inaugurated facility at JPMC is the great example of US-Pakistan friendship. He said improvement in health and education sector in Pakistan is the shared goal of the US and Pakistan. He said the USAID is endeavouring to provide better healthcare facilities to Pakistani people. Sindh Minister for Health Dr Jam Mehtab Dahar, Consul General Brian Heath and the USAID Provincial Director Craig Buck also attended the ceremony.
During the ceremony, JPMC administration and Tabba Foundation also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to manage the new ward. Ambassador Hale and the Chief Minister Sindh had also inaugurated Jacobabad Institute of Medical Sciences in January this year. The project is funded by the USAID. Since 2012, more than 5 million women and children have received healthcare services at the site supported by the US government.