Upgraded facilities ‘to benefit 200,000 patients’

The representative of UNHCR in Pakistan, Indirika Ratwatte handed over the project worth 35.371 million

QUETTA: As many as 200,000 patients, including Afghan refugees, will benefit from upgraded health facilities in public hospitals here, provincial health department officials said on Monday.

A ceremony was held here which was attended by officials from Balochistan’s Health Department and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), marking the completion of the project called ‘Strengthening of health services at tertiary hospitals of Quetta’.

The Representative of the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan, Indirika Ratwatte handed over the project worth 35.371 million.



Medical equipment and renovation of sanitary facilities were provided to the Bolan Medical Complex and Sandeman Hospital, while Fatima Jinnah General and Chest Hospital and Provincial AIDS Control Programme received IT equipment.

Asmatullah Kakar, the Secretary Health, who was invited as chief guest said that better equipment would help reduce mortality and morbidity rates.

Over the next year, it is projected that 72,000 expectant mothers and 81,600 newborn babies would benefit from the upgraded health services.



At least 1,200 cardiology and 144,000 trauma patients and 59,760 children will benefit in BMC, 36,000 will benefit from trollies and wheel chairs.

The number of beneficiaries would increase every year as services would remain sustainable for about five years.

The health secretary appreciated the three-day learning session conducted by UNHCR for medical staff, students, nurses and paramedical staff.

Indirika Ratwatte said that UNHCR appreciated Pakistan government for hosting millions of refugees for nearly four decades and UNHCR “understands the challenges faced by the host country”.

He thanked the people of Denmark and Japan who donated for the programme.

Pakistani institutes provided services to Afghan refugees.

The project is an UNHCR initiative – Refugee Affected and Hosting Areas (RAHA) programme.

UNHCR’s Deputy Representative Iain Stuart Hall, Head of UNHCR Sub-office Quetta Marin Din Kajdomcaj, Commissioner Afghan Refugees Brig (retd) Masud Ahmed, Afghan Consul General Wajeedullah Momand and other key officials also attended the ceremony.