KARACHI: Importance of economic programmes underlined
KARACHI, Sept 14: WHO representative to Pakistan, Khalif Bile Mohamud, has appreciated the efforts made by the Sindh government for implementing various preventive programmes to improve the quality of life of the people through the Basic Development Needs (BDN) concept.
Visiting different projects jointly initiated by the provincial government in collaboration with the WHO at Sehwan on Saturday, he observed that the BDN was the vision, language and tool of the common people enabling them to change their lifestyles for the better.
The WHO representative was accompanied by Sindh Health Secretary Khalid Latif Chaudhary; Managing Director Lasmo Pakistan, Mike Buck ; Director General, Sindh Health Services, Dr Fateh Muhammad Khan; WHO Medical Officer Dr Muhammad Assai Ardakani, Deputy National Coordinator BDN, Dr Fayyaz Hussain Lodhi and WHO Provincial Operations Officer Dr Ghulam Nabi Kazi.
Mr Khalif pointed out that the health benefits accruing from the programme including DOTS for TB control, immunization, malaria control, safe deliveries, exclusive breast-feeding promotion and other areas of reproductive health would definitely lead to betterment in the quality of life of the people of Sindh, particularly in the BDN area of Sehwan .
“The BDN concept brings our the elements of better health, education, community organization, mobilization, women empowerment and skill development under one roof” he observed.
The WHO representative presented an ambulance to the Secretary for Health on behalf of his organization Lasmo Pakistan which is engaged in oil exploration in the Sehwan area and is also playing its part in social lift programmes in the region.
The distinguished visitors also took round of the Allah Dino literacy center at Parheri Mohallah near Machhar Lake where 60 students are being educated. Schoolteacher Allah Dino personally brings all the children by boat and drops them back at their homes near the lake, providing them formal primary education, to which they had previously no access.
A family of fifteen persons living in a boat was also visited. The WHO representative suggested constitution of a committee to develop a comprehensive proposal in consultation with the community leaders in order to provide potable drinking watering to the area.
A visit to the girls literacy canter at Band Muncher was also part of the schedule. Female students are undergoing formal education for the first time in the history of the area.
The team appreciated the fact that the two lady teachers who are available were also engaged in educating and supervising the work of a nearby vocational center for women. The team then visited Basic Health Unit Bubak at the pilot site of the BDN programme, which has recently taken on the added responsibility of a diagnostic and treatment center for tuberculosis.
Secretary Health Khalid Latif Chaudhary thanked the WHO representative for his cooperation in improving health care facilities in remote parts of Sindh.
Shields were awarded to Khalid Latif Chaudhary, Dr Ghulam Nabi Kazi and many others involved in the BDN programmes.—APP
