KARACHI: The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday handed over 55 scooties to the Sindh health department for as many lady health workers, who are currently learning how to ride a motorbike, in an attempt to enhance their mobility, increase accessibility in remote areas of the metropolis and give them relief in travelling during their jobs to vaccinate children.

A ceremony in this regard was held at the headquarters of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), where the WHO handed over equipment, vehicles and healthcare assistance gadgets worth millions of rupees for capacity building of the healthcare sector and to enhance effectiveness of already existing facilities.

Speaking on the occasion, caretaker Health Minister Dr Saad Khalid Niaz thanked the WHO for the “resources”.

“I really thank WHO that it has helped us restoring and reviving 150 basic health units across the province,” he said while talking to reporters at the ceremony.

Earlier, Dr Sara Salman of WHO handed over to health officials a double cabin vehicle, 55 scooties for women vaccinators, three modern ambulances, nine transport incubators to be used in the ambulances, 500 uniforms of vaccinators, more than 200 coloured hygiene kits, 1,100 Nokia tablets for record maintenance and data management, two dental units, 20 full size tents, 500 water filtration units, basic medicines for over 100,000 people and medical goods being used in labour rooms for over 100 units.

When contacted, a spokesperson for the Sindh health department said that more than 50 lady health workers were already undergoing a thorough training to use scooties.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2024