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HYDERABAD, Jul 25 (APP):Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday inaugurated a new Mother and Child Hospital at Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) Jamshoro, declaring it a landmark of Sindh-Japan friendship and a major step forward for maternal and child healthcare in the province.
Speaking at the ceremony, the CM said, “This is not just a building, it is a beacon of hope and a symbol of our commitment to healthcare. The Government of Sindh has made maternal and child health an important component of the policy”.
He noted that under the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN), over 500,000 children receive treatment annually, and the province now operates the largest public neonatal care network in the country with over 262 incubators.
He said that the significant reduction in the mortality rate, especially among mothers and children, in Sindh was a major achievement, and because of the new facility, the scope of 24-hour medical services in the province was expanding further.
He also announced the establishment of four new satellite health centers in Shahdadpur, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Sajawal and Mirpur Mathelo, highlighting support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in strengthening the province’s healthcare infrastructure.
“Childbirth should be a moment of hope, not fear,” he said. “Our policy ensures that no mother loses her life during childbirth and every child has a healthy start to life. The Chief Minister also praised health minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho for her role in achieving key milestones in the health sector.
The CM was also briefed about the establishment and development of the maternal and Child health center. The hospital project was completed in collaboration with JICA and the Sindh Government at a cost of Rs 331 million, adding 128 new beds and raising the hospital’s capacity to 856 beds. The new facility includes modern medical equipment, 24/7 services, training programs and a strong focus on disease prevention.
The CM said that after the 18th constitutional amendment, the health sector came under the control of the Sindh government, adding that Public interest is our priority. “A few years ago, parents had to travel to Karachi for pediatric treatment. Now, hospitals and child health centers exist across the province,” he said.
He added that SICHN’s network now surpasses private hospitals in terms of coverage, workforce and medical infrastructure. Through partnership with ChildLife Foundation, telemedicine services were now available in every Taluka hospital, enabling access to pediatric specialists remotely.
Murad Shah said that as a result of these measures, the infant mortality rate had come down from 54 to 29 per thousand, and there was evidence of this. “We speak little, but the Sindh government believes in practical measures” he concluded.
The event was attended by the health minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Japanese Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi, MPAs Dr Sikandar Ali Shoro and Malik Sikandar Khan, Chairman District Council Suhail Ahmed Shoro, Commissioner Hyderabad Fayaz Hussain Abbasi, DIG Tariq Razzaque Dharejo and Deputy Commissioner Ghazanfar Ali Qadri among other officials.