KARACHI, March 21: Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Muzzafar Hussain Shah has underscored the need for close coordination between private and public sectors to meet the fast-growing health requirements of masses.

Addressing the award distribution ceremony of a fund-raising event Live in Style Expo 2004, organized by SADA Foundation here on Sunday, the Speaker observed that NGOs could play a vital role in the health sector to supplement the efforts undertaken jointly by the government and private institutions.

Stressing the need for an appropriate and judicious use of available resources, Mr Shah said that philanthropists could also play their role in improving the existing health facilities with the sole motive of ensuring that masses were provided with quality health care facilities which held direct bearing on socio-economic indicators of the country.

The Speaker appreciated the SADA Welfare Foundation for its projects at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) and hoped that the organization would continue its sincere efforts.

Mr Shah also highlighted importance of public awareness regarding importance of prevention and said that this would not only help both the government and private sectors to make an optimum use of available resources in education and social sectors, but also improve the quality of people's life in general.

Prof Zeenat Essani, director of the NICH, expressed her gratitude to the Foundation for its much needed support for renovation and expansion of the city's major hospital, catering to the medical requirements of children from across the province as well as other parts of the country. Earlier, chairperson of the Foundation Fauzia Siddiqui welcomed the Chief Guest. Tahira Javed offered vote of thanks. -APP