PESHAWAR, Oct 3: A memorandum of understanding was signed here on Wednesday between the health department and Save the Children to improve primary healthcare facilities in Battagram.

NWFP Health Minister Inayatullah Khan was the chief guest at the signing ceremony at the health secretariat, says a handout. The provincial health secretary, the Battagram district coordination officer and Country Director of Save the Children, Michel Grath, signed the MoU.

The minister said the memorandum was aimed at developing the best possible model of public-private partnership extendable to other districts of the province.

The two-year project will cost $3 million and the Japan Social Development Fund will provide funds for the project.

Efforts will be made for revitalising primary healthcare services through static facilities, mobile units and community-based workers in Battagram district.

The initiative will include maternal and child immunisation, prenatal, obstetric and postpartum care and family planning services.

Diagnosis and treatment of major infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, basic curative services, nutritional support, therapeutic feeding and breast-feeding will be promoted. Participation in immunisation drives, carrying out public health functions and disease surveillance to respond to epidemics will be among the components of the project.

Steps will also be taken to rehabilitate and operationalise rural health centres and basic health units in the earthquake-hit district.

Save the Children will also organise mobile service delivery in hard-to-reach valleys.

The community-based primary healthcare services will be reorganised by lady health workers. Local health committees will be made functional

and refresher training will be held for LHW supervisors with special focus on support to the handicapped people.

Technical assistance will be provided for enhancing the capacity of the district health management team and strengthening the referral system with the district headquarters hospital.

The health workers affected by the 2005 earthquake will be offered counselling to overcome the mental trauma, short-term on-the-job training and performance-based incentives.