ISLAMABAD, Nov 26: Norway has provided the United Nations in Pakistan 250 million krones (over $35.54 million) for a UN project in Pakistan for maternal, newborn, and child health projects for the poor in Sindh.

Norway’s contribution will complement and accelerate the government’s efforts to achieve health targets of ‘Millennium Development Goals’.

Pakistan lags behind most developing nations in maternal, newborn and child health projects.

According to UN figures, 320 mothers die for every 100,000 live births in Pakistan. The infant mortality rate is 77 for every 1,000 live births with more than half of the infant deaths occurring in the neonatal period.

WHO, Unicef and UNFPA will jointly execute the project focussing on 10 under-served rural districts in Sindh, which have been selected on the basis of their prevailing high maternal and under-five child mortality rates and poorly-functioning health systems.

UN’s resident coordinator in Pakistan Fikret Akcura said: “Norway’s … support will help effect real change in areas of maternal and child health while serving a population of 11 million in Sindh and will help strengthen health services in the province.”

Dr Sissel Volan, Norway’s deputy head of mission in Pakistan, said: “The Norwegian government is committed to improving the quality of health care for pregnant women and infants.”