HYDERABAD, April 6: DCO Mohammad Sharif Awan has said Rs44.209 million is being spent on projects to improve educational institutions and health units in the district during this year under the Sindh Devolved Social Services Programme.

He was presiding over a meeting here on Wednesday to review utilization of funds under the programme.

He said that under the programme, Rs6.631 million would be utilized through NGOs and community-based organizations engaged in participatory development and welfare activities in the district and the remaining Rs37.578 million would be spent to improve health and education departments by providing them with lacking facilities and introducing new schemes.

Highlighting priorities in the education sector, Mr Awan said the district government was focusing on introduction of early childhood education in government schools and provision of additional classrooms in crowded schools, facilities of drinking water, furniture, boundary walls, electricity and washrooms, especially in girls’ schools.

Similarly, he said, projects of providing mother and child healthcare services, especially at rural health centres and basic health units, establishment of an ICU at the Tandojam rural health centre and a CCU at a Paretabad hospital and providing facilities and replacement of old and defective equipment in major hospitals of the district government would also be carried out under the programme.

He directed managements of district health and education departments to submit feasibility reports in a week so that work on the projects could be started within shortest possible time.