THATTA, Dec 21: The project launched by an NGO under which local health care providers (LHCPs) are rendering their services in rural areas is bearing fruit.

The NGO — Health and Nutrition Development Society — launched the project as 46 basic health units, eight rural health centres and 23 district council’s dispensaries failed to provide 24 hours emergency health services, particularly in rural areas.

Azra Kashigar, project coordinator, sustainable health services, HANDS, told this correspondent that women owing to tribal customs and non-local staff at government health facilities were reluctant to avail reproductive health services.

She said in many rural areas which lacked health facilities, women were put at the mercy of quacks.

This correspondent visited a number of coastal and other villages, including Chaudhry Atta Mohammad Arain, Bhambhore, Hafiz Channa, Malmari and Sonehri, interviewed residents and witnessed the working of health units being operated by LHCPs.

The LHCPs comprised midwives Rukhsana, Sakina and Aziza, health attendants Mohammad Yousuf, Ghulam Qadir and Iqbal Ahmad and birth attendants Dhana and Jannat.

They said after they were imparted a one-year health training at urban hospitals, they were provided with health equipment and one-month free medicines by the NGO.

They said as they belonged to the area, the villagers had no reservations to call them at their houses.

Saying that the existing centres were providing health services to 50,000 people in 11 villages, the LHCPs said the project was also helping them earn their livelihood.