USAID, Sindh govt sign MoU to save mother, infant lives

KARACHI: The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Sindh government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the USAID-funded Maternal and Child Health Program (MCH).

The MoU was signed by USAID Mission Director for Pakistan John Groarke, and Sindh Health Secretary Saeed Ahmed Mangnejo and Population Welfare Secretary Muhammad Saleem Raza.

The US Consul General in Karachi, Brian Heath, also attended the ceremony.

Under the terms of the agreement, USAID will work with the Sindh government to provide more Pakistani families with maternal, newborn and child health services as well as integrated family planning to reduce maternal and child deaths.  The MCH Program hopes to provide at least 80 percent of families across 15 districts of Sindh with quality health-care services.

“For the past 50 years, the United States has supported Pakistan in improving the accessibility and quality of health-care services available to ordinary Pakistanis,” said Consul General Heath.

“The main goal of the Maternal and Child Health Program is to dramatically reduce maternal and infant illness and mortality. This includes working together to reach ambitious targets, such as decreasing the newborn mortality rate from 54 to 50 deaths per 1,000 live births.”

In his remarks, Minister of Health Jam Mehtab Dahar acknowledged USAID’s support to improve health services in Sindh.

USAID Mission Director John Groarke highlighted the importance of the US-Pakistani partnership in the initiative.

“Together, we can improve reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health in Sindh,” said Mr. Groarke.

“Together, we can develop key policies and programs to deliver high-quality health services to populations that need them.”