KARACHI, July 24: Sindh chief secretary Dr Mutawakkil Kazi has emphasised upon the health department not to politicize the issues and bring up facts and figures in preparing strategies to facilitate people at the grass-root level.

He expressed these views while addressing presentation session on “Early Childhood Development Programme” (ECDP) organized by the provincial health department on Thursday.

The chief secretary said that realities must be incorporated in all plans without any political and financial temptation. He stressed on the need to tackle the issues of health, water supply, sanitation, nutrition and education.

Dr Kazi said that Pakistani children, who were very intelligent, needed proper nutrition and good education system, so that they could meet the future challenges at par with the children of developed countries.

The presentation was made to adopt the ECDP, which will be financed with a loan of US$ 30 million by Asian Development Bank (ADB), with objectivity of reduction in maternal and child mortality, morbidity and disability due to malnutrition and micro-nutrient deficiencies.

Speaking on the occasion, the ADB country director, Marshuk Ali Shah, pointed out that ADB was interested in the development of public health specifically in the field of early childhood so that children could avail a better living standard.

The meeting decided that the health department would submit a strategic plan within the next 10 days for the ECDP.—PPI