CM Kamal shows displeasure over poor output of health programmes

QUETTA, Feb 20 (APP):Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Wednesday expressed his concern over the increasing level of mothers’ and infants’ mortality rate and directed the authorities concerned to expedite efforts for enhancing Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) programme and scale up the project on latest trends.
The chief minister made this observations during a meeting held here to get briefing on MNCH programme, said a press release.Jam Kamal expressed his displeasure over the outcome of various health projects. “There are various health projects going side by side and the provincial government is spending huge funds on the projects and the public are not getting its benefits in the true sense,” he remarked.
He directed the authorities concerned to increase Nutrition Project for Mothers and Children (NPMC) on emergency basis to mark a significant achievement. The project of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) should be materialized to curtail higher number of mothers’ and infants’ mortality rate in the province.
He said that the purpose of projects was to solve the health problems of the people, bring prosperity in the province and for the purpose of achieving this objective the support of community was very important.
The goal of the Infant Young Child Feeding (IYCF) strategy was to further improve the nutritional status, growth and development, survival ratio of the infants and young children through optimal practices, he added.
Jam Kamal said that the appointment of doctors on contract basis could bring improvement in the health sector besides the sector had still needed more improvements.
The CM had also directed the authority to make geo-mapping to obtain complete information of all MNCH centres in the province.
The provincial coordinator of the programme Dr Gul Sabin while briefing the meeting said that the programme of MNCH was initiated in 2007 with the support of federal government however that was to be completed to till 2015 but the pogramme has been expanded to 2020.
She told the meeting that 800 matriculated females had been recruited as community midwife under the MNCH programme and after training they were posted in the MNCH centres at different hospitals for the assessment of nutritional status of the children below five years of age and pregnant women in 15 high rate districts.
She further said that the continuation of the above programme was its result orientation that helped curtail mortality rate and the programme would be expanded to other districts of the province. Gul Sabin said that the midwifery school would be established in Gwadar district under the programme.
Provision of Multiple Micro-nutrient Sachets (MMS) was continuing to address the micro-nutrient deficiency of all children aged 6-23 months. Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) was being provided to severely malnourished mothers and children, she said.
The coordinator said that severely malnourished children with complications were being referred to Stabilisation Centres established at District Headquarters Hospital for treatment and follow-up.