PESHAWAR, Nov 21: NWFP Health Minister Inayatullah has said comprehensive and coordinated efforts by all stakeholders, both in public and private sectors, could improve the poor health status of women and children in developing countries.

He was addressing the concluding session of the 11th Biennial International Conference of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan here on Sunday evening.

The health minister, while referring to the poor health and social indicators in the developing countries, urged that it was the joint responsibility of all to work for overcoming the deteriorating situation of women and children to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by 191 countries of the world.

He said that the Government of Pakistan was well aware of the situation and a series of initiatives were being taken to improve the health care delivery system.

Mr Inayatullah went on to say that improvement of women’s health was the cornerstone of national policy and that was why efforts were being made to improve the healthcare system in backward areas of the country.

He elaborated that introduction of the LHW programme, midwives’ training and special incentives for female staff were the steps taken by the government to achieve that goal.

The minister underlined the need for proper planning, better management, efficient monitoring and development of human resources to boost health facilities and fulfil the needs of people.

Referring to the organized response of the health sector towards providing relief to earthquake victims, the minister said that the health department had been successful in providing relief to the affected people.

Presenting recommendations put forth by experts of the conference, the chairperson of the conference, Dr Bilqees Afridi, demanded improved facilities in the gyne units of teaching hospitals, opportunities for skill development and disaster management training for gynaecologists and uplift of healthcare system in peripheral areas.