K-P govt signs deal to strengthen secondary health services

USAID-funded project will help implement global health security agenda

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government health department signed Integrated Health Systems Strengthening and Service Delivery (IHSS-SD) project with JSI in Islamabad on Wednesday.

Secretary Health Syed Farooq Jamil said the project which aims to provide ambulances and essential equipment for improving emergency services at secondary hospitals in selected districts and will operationalize mobile health services units already with health department for providing outreach services for improving access in the selected districts.

The Project is funded by USAID which implement by JSI Research & Training Institution with its consortium partners Jhpiego content International and RSPN.  The project will help implement global health security agenda

K-P Health Minister Dr Hisham Inamullah Khan appreciating contribution of USAID in complementing the government’s efforts for improving health services delivery, focusing on minimum health services delivery package and high impact interventions related to maternal, newborn & child health , nutritions and infectious diseases.

Sangita Patel, Director Health Office USAID Pakistan, Dr Nabeela Ali, Chief of Party and country representative of JSI, Dr. Farooq Jamil Secretary Health K-P, DG Health K-P Dr Arshad , Dr Zareef Uddin Sr. Advisor JSI, Dr. Arshad Mahmood Director M&E JSI  & Deputy Commissioners from district mohmand newly merged areas, Swat and Charsada.

Patel shared that the project activities in the K-P will be planned and carried out in close collaboration and will support the operationalisation of certain components of the newly approved health policy of the province.

Dr Nabeela Ali highlighted some of the key proposed activities include technical support and assistance to province for operationalize certain thematic areas of the province health policy 2018; Implementation of Global Health Security Agenda establishing M&E system with M&E cells at district and provincial levels with integrated dashboard inclusive of integrated Disease Surveillance & Response (IDSR). The Provincial Health Services Academy (PHSA) will get support to become hub of in-service training for human resources for health.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2019.