Minister terms health indicators `shameful’ for all

By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI – Terming poor health indicators `shameful for all’, Minister of State for National Health Services Regulation & Coordination (NHSR&C), Saira Afzal Tarar, emphasized the need for improving overall health situation in the country through coordinated efforts.

She was speaking at a ceremony held at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) to hand over ambulances donated to Pakistan by the Chinese government. Director General National Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Network Dr Munir Mangrio, Sindh Secretary Health Dr Saeed Ahmed Mangnejo, Prof Anis Bhatti and other senior officials were present on this occasion.

Of the total 80 modern life-saving ambulances which the Government of China donated to Pakistan, 20 each will be given to Punjab and Sindh, 10 to the federal government, eight each to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, five each to Azad Jammu Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan and four to Federally-Administered Tribal Area (Fata).

Expressing her gratitude to the Chinese government for donating modern ambulances to Pakistan, the minister said that the expensive ambulances, each costing Rs6 million, had been donated by the friendly country with a view to saving precious lives.

At the outset, the minister lauded the performance of JPMC and other health institutions for providing health facilities to the poor people.

On this occasion, she also informed that the GAVI mission had appreciated the performance of polio workers in increasing the routine vaccination coverage in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Saeed Mangnejo said that Sindh government in collaboration with Aman Foundation will soon launch emergency response ambulances service in Thatta and Sujawal districts.