Model Mother and Child Care Centre a life line for poor people of Pindi’s rural area

Visitors say satisfied with doctors, availability of medicines, vaccination, and ultrasoun

RAWALPINDI: The Model Mother and Child Care Centre located in Dhok Rata area of Rawalpindi has become a heaven for the poverty hit people seeking free healthcare from state-run clinics and hospitals.

Located on Babu Lal Hussain Road, the health facility has been providing quality healthcare to women and children in three union councils of the area.

Unlike scores of government-run health centres, the local people expressed satisfaction on the services being provided at the Model Mother and Child Care Centre.

A large number of women and children avail the benefits of the services being provided including check-up, ultrasound, laboratory test, shifting to the rural health centre Khaybane Sir Syed for delivery, provision of important medicines, family planning and protective injections and vaccination of children, all free of cost, according to a survey conducted by Daily Express.



The plaque at the dispensary shows that the place belonged to Lal Hussain, a famous personality of the area. In 1967, the then Rawalpindi Commissioner MH Shah had a municipal dispensary built on the place known as Lal Hussain Bagh.

The dispensary remained in place for a long time. Later the building of the dispensary was expanded in two phases after which it was first given the status of a municipal medical centre and later a Mother and Child Care Centre.

What makes the place different from other municipal dispensaries is the people working here. The gynaecologist, midwife, lady health worker were seen tending to their duties.

Owing to a dedicated staff, the state provided machinery was also in good working condition. The patients were getting their ultrasound and other check-ups without going to private facilities and spending hundreds of rupees.

Moreover, health experts provide guidance for birth-spacing, nutrition during pregnancy and during lactation, importance of breastfeeding and vaccination for mother and child.

The in-charge of the centre, Dr Saima Shah said that most rural women overlook their health needs, but here they get all the necessary facilities without spending a rupee for the whole nine months.

Apart from ultrasound and laboratory test facilities, expecting mothers are also provided with iron and calcium tablets and other necessary medicines and at the time of delivery, they are sent to the rural health centre in Khaybane Sir Syed with the check-up reports.

The facility continues to provide follow-up checks and care to mothers and newborns, including vaccination for which staff is present.