PESHAWAR, Dec 27: The NWFP government is launching a project with the financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to improve the reproductive health facilities in eight targeted districts of the province, official sources said here on Saturday.

The Reproductive Health Project (RHP) to be completed over a period of six years (2004-2010) at the cost of Rs 93.571 million, is aimed at reduction in growth rate from 2.2 per cent to 1.8 per cent, fertility rate from 5.5 to 4.5 per cent, infant mortality rate (IMR) from 95 to 70/1000, total fertility rate (TFR) from 4.7 to 3 per cent and increase in utilization of reproductive health services by 50 per cent by the end of the project.

It further aims at integration of family planning services, maternal and child health and other health care services through integrated management so as to benefit the people in the marginalized areas of the province, official added.

They said that the ADB would provide 80 per cent of total the cost of the project, whereas the rest of 20 per cent will be provided by the provincial government.

The project will be undertaken early next year in Upper and Lower Dir, Battagram, Buner, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Tank, official said and added that necessary equipment and funds for minor repairs in the selected four tehsil headquarters (THQs), 25 rural health centres (RHCs), 234 basic health units (BHUs) and 20 mother and child health centres (MCHs) will be supplied to improve obstetric care facilities at primary level.

Efforts would also be made to provide basic amenities such as electricity, water and sanitation facilities to these outlets, official said.

For this purpose these facilities will be renovated and 275 male doctors will be imparted two-week refresher training in interpersonal communication (IPC) skills to enable them to cope with the cases of urinary tract infections (UTIs) among the adolescents and adult males. Along  with treatment, investigation facilities would be also be put in place to diagnose and treat the patients at the earliest, the officials added.