KARACHI, April 7: The United Kingdom, extremely supportive to the cause of quality survival and dignified existence of women and children across the globe, has emerged as a strong partner of Pakistan in its ongoing efforts to strengthen human resources. The Deputy High Commissioner of the UK, Hamesh Daniel, said his country with the very objective had pledged sterling pounds 238 million assistance for Pakistan to improve its health care delivery system.

He was addressing a seminar held under the aegis of the UN Association of Pakistan on Thursday to commemorate the World Health Day.

According to him, the British Government was also working with the Pakistani Government in designing a programme aimed at improving maternal health and quality survival chances for the newborn and children below five years.

Registering his serious concern that 25,000 mothers died in during child delivery every year in Pakistan only, while a much higher number of babies failed to witness even their first five years of existence, Mr Daniel said it was extremely distressing for his country to see this even in the 21st century.

The British Deputy High Commissioner said the issue of high mortality and morbidity among women and children was not only restricted to Pakistan, but many of the developing countries were exposed to the same. Hence, the international community was required to make joint efforts for creating a healthy and safe world for all, he reasoned.

Faisal Malik Gabol, the Health Adviser to the Chief Minister, on the occasion said the government was attempting at procuring additional grants to further expand the network of lady health workers and lady health visitors across the province.

He said he had been successful in his meeting with the Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, and Federal Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan held at Islamabad, in seeking an assurance from the federal government to strongly support the programme.

The adviser also underscored the need for an efficient system of public awareness under which relevant knowledge, with specific reference to prevention of diseases and health conditions, may trickle down to the grassroots levels.

Dr Sohail Thobani, a senior paediatrician associated with the Aga Khan Hospital in his presentation attributed the alarmingly high incidence of maternal, neo-natal and infant mortality/morbidity rates in the country to low status of women in general.

In his presentation, he also observed with deep grief that most of the causes of mother and child deaths in the country were largely preventable, underscoring the need for an appropriate mechanism to address the scenario.

Other speakers including Dr Qaiser Sajjad, Secretary General PMA - Karachi, Dr Akber Haider Soomro of the Lyari General Hospital, Dr G.N. Kazi, WHO Operations Officer for Sindh, in their respective presentations called for concerted efforts and absolute political will at all ranks to meet the challenge.

Iqbal Chisti of UN Association of Pakistan offered the vote of thanks.

DOW VARSITY: The Vice-Chancellor of the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Prof Dr Masood Hameed, has underlined the need for organising public awareness programmes related to health and hygiene on monthly bases at all health care facilities across the country.