PESHAWAR, Aug 10: The NWFP Finance Department is yet to approve the PC-1 for the establishment of health education units at the provincial and district levels despite a lapse of two years, officials said.

All other provinces as well as Azad Kashmir and Fata had already set up these units with a view to educating people about primary health care.

“The directorate-general of health services had sent a PC-1 for the establishment of health education units in 2001, but the finance department is reluctant to approve it,” said an official. Ironically, the document has gone missing from the finance department record that prompted the health department to submit another copy on July 15 this year.

The official said the government was required to allocate Rs240,000 per year for the establishment of these units for a period of next five years. These units would work as executing agencies to implement projects funded by the international donor organizations.

After the devolution plan, the provincial government abolished the idea of setting up these units at all 24 districts.

About two months ago, the federal government through a letter asked the provincial government to create health education units at the earliest, said the official.

“Only by establishing health education units we can increase the coverage of expanded programme on immunization (EPI), use of oral rehydration salt (ORS), promotion of breast-feeding, information about preventive methods and spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis, malaria and increase in the use of iodised salt,” said a doctor.