ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: The Japanese government has provided a financial assistance of $81,915 for the establishment of a women development centre in Thatta.

The project, which was inaugurated by minister embassy of Japan, Hiroshi Azuma, on Tuesday has been initiated under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects scheme.

Dr Mubina Agboatwalla, President Health Oriented Preventive Education (HOPE), initiated the project which is a replication of HOPE’s first centre established in Karachi.

Through Japan’s grassroots assistance, the NGO was enabled to construct the multi-purpose community centre.

The centre comprises a 15-bed hospital with outpatient and inpatient facilities, a small operation theatre, a labour room for normal deliverers, a laboratory for routine investigations and X-ray facilities.

The centre is also serving as a primary school for girls, for imparting adult literacy classes and as a cutting and sewing centre for young girls and women.

Around 35,000 women and children including those from the surrounding villages are receiving the benefits of this Japanese support as improved emergency maternal obstetric care, safe motherhood facilities and better child health care are being ensured at nominal cost.

The project is also providing quality primary education to girls and developing household skills for women, so that they could lead a better life by participating in income-generating activities.—APP