Sindh Health Minister Dr. Sagheer Ahmed has said that with the help of donor friends, steps are being taken to further strengthen health facilities throughout the province specially in far-flung areas of Sindh. He was addressing at the MoU signing ceremony of Jacobabad Institute of Medical Sciences between the Sindh government and USAID.
The MoU was signed by Health Secretary, Aftab Ahmed Khatri and USAID Deputy Mission Director Leon Waskin. Dr. Sagheer Ahmed further said that USAID would provide US$10 million for the project which was expected to be completed in two years time. Sindh government would also provide Rs478 million for residential complex for doctor, para-medical and other staff, he added.
He said that Sindh government would also bear recurring cost of the hospital. A bill for JIMC would soon be tabled in Sindh Assembly to provide legal cover to the Institute. He lauded the service of USAID in pro-vision of health care facilities to the masses of the province specially for the healthcare of mothers and children. He said that this 133 bedded state-of-the-art hospital would also have solar system and generator backup facilities so as to keep it running in case of any load shedding. He also highlighted the services of Additional Chief Secre-tary Planning and Deve-lopment Malik Israr Hussain in this regard and hoped that the construction work would start soon. Additional Chief Secretary Malik Israr Hussain, Secretary Development Rehana Ghulam Ali, Chief Economist Iqbal Memon, officers of health and P&D Departments were also present on the occasion.