KARACHI, Feb 14: The provincial health department and the Pakistan Army has agreed in principle to work jointly in providing health care to the people of Thar and adjoining areas on reciprocal basis.

In this connection a formal memorandum of understanding would be signed following the approval of Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Rahim, it was learnt here on Monday.

Apprising about the programme, Secretary Health Dr Naushad Shaikh told reporters at his office that specialists from the Combined Military Hospitals located in Badin, Chor and Mitthi would provide health care facilities to the general public by visiting the basic health units once or twice a week. The specialist from the provincial health department will visit the CMH where their services would be required.

Additional Secretary Health Manzoor Memon said that to overcome the shortage of nurses and paramedical staff in the province a training institute in Badin with 50 seats would be set up. Besides, he said that a midwifery training school would start functioning in Mitthi from June this year. The school would offer 30 seats, he added.

Secretary Health said that the taluka hospital of Umarkot and Mitthi would be upgraded to the level of district hospitals by providing latest equipment and commissioning operation theatres and intensive care units.

Referring to the high incidence of snake bite in Thar, Dr Naushad said that feasibility for setting up a factory for preparation of anti-snake venom in the area was under study.

In this connection, a team of National Institute of Health would soon visit Thar. These projects were part of the prime minister's package for Thar which he had announced a few months back, he added.