CHITRAL: The speakers in a workshop here on Tuesday praised the Aga Khan Health Service Pakistan (AKHSP) for using information technology to improve maternal, newborn and child healthcare in far-flung areas of Chitral district.

The AKHSP held the event on ‘Mobile Health’.

The speakers, including Mirajuddin, Dr Riaz Hussain, Dr Saleem Saifullah, Dr Fayaz Rumi, Nusrat Jabeen, Qadrunnisa and Anwar Baig, said the AKHSP had launched a project, Access to Quality Care through Extending and Strengthening Health Systems, four years ago with the financial assistance of the Canadian government to improve healthcare system in the district along modern lines.

They said community midwives were appointed and trained to improve neonatal health service, while the ‘Mobile-Health’ system was introduced under the AQCESS project to improve the people’s access to healthcare.

The speakers said a community midwife working in a far-flung area had been given a mobile phone set with a special app connected with the information system of the central office.

They said village-based midwives provided care to pregnant women and referred them to the secondary healthcare facilities in case of complications. The speakers said the initiative had greatly improved the quality and quantity of and access to maternal, newborn and child healthcare by digitising antenatal care, delivery process and postnatal care.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner of Chitral district Naveed Ahmad has been included in the board of governors of the Langland’s School and College Chitral.

Earlier, no officer of the district administration was part of the board partially financed by the government.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2019