Adviser briefed on Unicef’s support to Health Department

PESHAWAR: Health Adviser Ihtisham Ali on Tuesday said that the government would spare no effort to ensure the provision of healthcare services to the people in the remote areas.

He made the remarks during his visit to the Unicef Peshawar office. He was accompanied by Health Secretary Adeel Shah. They visited the Unicef Peshawar office, where they were warmly welcomed by Unicef’s Health Team Lead Dr Inamullah and Programme Manager Wisam Hazem and Nutrition Specialist Ayeen Afridi. During the visit, Unicef officials briefed them on the support being provided to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department.

Health Adviser Ihtisham Ali expressed his gratitude to Unicef for its support in ensuring the provision of healthcare services and immunization efforts.He said the Health Department would collaborate with Unicef in its future planning, ensuring that the department’s needs were reflected in Unicef’s strategies. He urged Unicef to continue supporting the revitalization of primary healthcare.

Unicef representatives briefed the adviser on their five-year programme (2023-2027), which included assistance in various health sectors such as polio eradication, maternal and child health, nutrition, and more. The health adviser was informed about the alarming malnutrition situation among children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Unicef is also supporting the digitization efforts of the health department, particularly in implementing the DHIS-2 system. Moreover, they are providing assistance in the newborn strategy, expanding the capacity of oxygen plants, and driving social behavior change initiatives. Unicef remains a vital partner in providing emergency assistance to the health department.

Unicef is actively working with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department, Khyber Medical University, and the Planning and Development Department to address the malnutrition crisis.The adviser was informed that in addition to ongoing initiatives, it was crucial to include essential medicines in the procurement list that can help combat malnutrition, particularly in remote areas.