KARACHI, May. 5 (APP): Sindh Health Minister, Dr. Saghir Ahmed here on Wednesday said shortage of nurses persists in the provincial government’s hospitals despite recent induction of 80 qualified nurses, through Sindh Public Service Commission. He told APP that service structure for nurses has also been revised to attract more and more women towards the profession and that they are now being offered far better remuneration and status.

 In reply to another question, he said Sindh Public Service Commission has been requested to expedite the process so as to ensure early availability of nurses against all vacant posts in the public sector hospitals.

The health minister acknowledged that many of the nurses students may had discontinued with their studies and sought jobs in private healthcare facilities due to financial compulsion.

“We are conscious of it and a summary has been forwarded to the Sindh Chief Minister to raise the stipend for the nursing students,” he said.

Earlier, in his elaborate presentation at a seminar organized by Sindh chapter of National Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Program and UNFPA, to celebrate International Nurses and Midwives Day, he said government was committed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) four and five, related to quality lives of mothers and children, by the year 2015.

“Factually under the NMNCH Program we plan to train some 2000 community midwives till 2011 so as to help mothers and children at their door steps,” he said.

Addressing hundreds of midwives and doctors at the ceremony, the minister said Pakistan registering one of the highest maternal, neonatal and infant mortality rates needed a fool proof mechanism to address the situation.

“Well trained and well equipped community midwives are to be the bridge between the target population and referral facilities,” said Dr. Saghir Ahmed.

He expressed his satisfaction that the first batch of community midwives from Sindh have successfully completed their training.

The minister assured that salary and service structure for midwives and lady health visitors would also be revised so as to attract more and more women, particularly from rural areas to join the profession.

The project, he said is according to government policy of “Health for All,” and under the strategy not only conditions and facilities at hospitals are being improved but public awareness about hygienic practices is also being raised.

Sindh Health Secretary, Syed Hashim Raza, cited maternal and child health a major challenge for the country.

“Improved and flawless implementation of Expanded Program on Immunization and National Program on Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health can make the major difference,” he commented.

Additional Secretary for Health (Sindh), Dr. Abdul Majid referred to different training schemes undertaken by the government in collaboration with NGOs.

National Program Manager for MNCH Project, Dr. Farooq Akhter said commitment has helped him and his team to achieve the targets set under maternal, neonatal and child health program.

“Initially it appeared to be extremely difficult but we are quite fast to reach our targets by 2011,” said Dr. Farooq Akhter.

Dr. Sahab Jan Badar, Director of the Sindh Chapter for NMCH Program said the scheme not only targets enhancement of professional capacities of doctors about maternal and child health but particularly focusses midwives.

She said first batch of Sindh based community midwives have already completed their training and are active in the field while second and third batches are presently under training.