PESHAWAR: Health Department and the Population Welfare Department have partnered to increase the use of lady health workers’ services in order to improve family planning services and raise maternal and child health indicators in the province.

According to a press release, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed here on Monday with the goal of enhancing public access to lady health workers (LHWs) for maternity and child health services as well as family planning.

Under this MoU, both departments will work to ensure better access to LHW services to enhance family planning and maternal-child health outcomes.

It said that the agreement was signed by Ayesha Ahsan, Director General of Population Welfare, and Dr Mohammad Saleem Khan, Director General of Health Services, in the presence of Advisor to CM on Health Ihtisham Ali and Special Assistant to CM on Forest Environment and Wildlife Musawir Khan Ghazi.

It is anticipated that this programme will greatly lower maternal deaths during pregnancy, newborn mortality, and stunting, improving overall regional health indicators According to the programme; the goal is to guarantee that visitors receive LHW services for family planning and childbirth-related concerns.

In order to slow down the population growth and provide better healthcare for mothers and children, both the departments have to work together, the statement added.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2024