U.S. Consul General Brian Heath visits USAID rehabilitated school in Sanghar.
Sanghar, Pakistan –U.S. Consul General Brian Heath visited U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) projects in Sanghar, including the District Headquarters Hospital and Khatoon-e-Pakistan School.
At the hospital, Mr. Heath noted that he was “very proud of USAID’s contributions, particularly rehabilitating the hospital’s labor room in July 2015 as a part of USAID’s flagship Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MCH) Program.” Under the MCH program, USAID and its implementing partner MCHIP/Jhpiego is providing support to the Sindh Department of Health in 15 districts of Sindh, including Sanghar.District Health Officer Aftab Soomro and hospital medical superintendent Tahir Iqbal Kalyar were on site to greet the U.S. Consul General. “USAID projects, such as these,” said Mr. Heath, “are helping to save hundreds of lives in Pakistan every year.”
District Headquarters Hospital, Sanghar started operations in 1966 and has over 200 in-patient beds, including a 12-bed Ob/Gyn ward. It provides all MCH services (antenatal care, labor and delivery, postnatal and newborn care, family planning, child healthcare, nutrition, immunization, and basic and comprehensive emergency obstetrics and newborn care to the local population.
The hospital is operational around the clock. USAID and MCHIP are working with the Department of Health to address gaps in human resources and to improve blood transfusion services. “MCHIP has trained 12 community midwives, while helping them establish maternal and child health centers,” said Mr. Heath. MCHIP also ensured that 1,165 Lady Health Workers have completed refresher training, he said.
USAID has also played an important role in rehabilitating schools damaged by severe flooding in 2010 and 2011. While visiting Khatoon-e-Pakistan school, Mr. Heath explained that USAID has rehabilitated or reconstructed 36 schools in Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Umerkot, and Tando Allah yar districts in Sindh and Jaffarabad and Naseerabad districts in Balochistan. “This has benefited 10,000 girls and boys, who otherwise would not be able to go to school,” said the U.S. Consul General. Head teacher Mukhtiar Bano and School Management Committee Chairman Rasool Bux Mullah gave Mr. Heath a tour of the rehabilitated facilities.