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| April 29, 2006 | Saturday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 30, 1427 |
Norway pledges $8 million; Mother-child health programme
ISLAMABAD, April 28: The Norwegian government on Friday pledged a support worth $8 million to strengthen mother-child health programme in Pakistan aimed at reducing mortality rate.
The pledge was made by the Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Norway Tore Godal during a meeting with Health Minister Mohammed Nasir Khan.
Norway’s Minister Consular in Pakistan, Alf Arne Ramslien was also present on the occasion. The support to be provided by the Norwegian government would help Pakistan attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) related to reducing mother and child mortality.
Pakistan and Norway are partners in development said Godal while briefing the health minister on the extent of co-operation between the two countries.
Norway was the only Nordic country currently involved in development co-operation with Pakistan, he said. There was excellent collaboration between the two countries in the area of poverty alleviation and social sector reforms, he said.
Norwegian direct bilateral development cooperation with Pakistan amounts to approximately $10 million per year.
Expressing his gratitude to the Norwegian delegation, Mohammed Nasir Khan explained that preventive health initiatives in the country were being strengthened with special emphasis on child protection aimed at significant reduction in the infant mortality rates.
Through the National Maternal and Child Health Policy launched in 2005, Pakistan had laid down clear vision and expressed its resolve to improve the health status of mother and child.
Considerable head way had been made in reducing child mortality in the country, which now stands at 103 as against 120 a few years ago. The Lady Health Workers (LHW) programme and the EPI (extended programme of immunisation) along with the nutrition programme are major interventions of the government towards achieving the child health related MDGs, said the minister.
Earlier, presentations were made to the Norwegian delegation by the heads of the national health programmes highlighting the current status of child health in the country along with gaps and possible areas of collaboration between the two countries.
Dr Rehan Hafiz, National Programme Manager, EPI dwelt at length on the efforts being made in the country towards reducing child and infant mortality resulting from immunizable diseases.
He apprised the delegation of the success attained in enhancing the routine immunization coverage in the country and eradication of Polio.
Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta of the Aga Khan University briefed on the overall status of child health in the country. Dr Sania Nishter, President Heartfile made a comprehensive presentation on inter-sectoral collaboration and strengthening public-private interface in taking forward health initiatives. Representatives of World Bank, USAID, DFID-UK, WHO and UNICEF attended the meeting.
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