PESHAWAR, Feb 18: NWFP Health Minister Inayatullah Khan has said that a comprehensive plan has been prepared to improve the healthcare outlets and more than 50 per cent of funds for the health sector has been diverted to make primary healthcare facilities efficient at the local level.

He was speaking at the concluding ceremony of the 4th primary healthcare course for lady health visitors (LHVs) at the Provincial Health Services Academy (PHSA) here on Friday.

PHSA Director Dr Salim Javed Gandapur and course participants also spoke on the occasion. The three-month course, arranged by the Women Health Project NWFP in collaboration with the PHSA, was attended by 21 LHVs from Swat, Shangla, Swabi, Kohat and Hangu districts.

The health minister said that primary health care units were playing a key role as prevention of a disease was not possible without giving proper attention to the sector.

Referring to a plan for the betterment of basic health facilities, he said under a scheme, steps would be taken for the rehabilitation of BHUs and RHCs, including renovation of official accommodations and provision of necessary items to make these institutions attractive.

The minister said that LHVs were part of a service structure devised for paramedic staff which, he said, had been submitted to the chief minister. He also directed the authorities to provide accommodation to women trainees on a priority basis.

Earlier, LHVs demanded better working conditions, opportunities of advance training and higher education. Dr Mehmood Alam, deputy director of the PHSA, said that participants were given training in mother and child health, clean drinking water, balanced diet, sanitation, reproductive health, vaccination, TB and prevention of other diseases.