US to give more aid to Pakistani health sector

ISLAMABAD: Ryan C Crocker, US envoy in Pakistan, on Wednesday met Mohammad Nasir Khan, federal health minister, and discussed ways to explore new areas for extending US support to Pakistan in the health sector.

The US government through its development agency, USAID, is providing significant assistance to health sector development in Pakistan. The minister praised the US government’s support and highlighted key areas of the national health policy with emphasis on prevention and control of communicable diseases, and maternal and child health.

The ambassador said the US assistance was being given according to the priorities of Pakistan’s health sector. He added that the USAID assistance was directed towards the priority health care programmes, addressing the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis and aimed at reducing infant and maternal mortality rates in Pakistan.

Strengthening the public health surveillance system in Pakistan and the collaboration between the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad and the Centre for the US Disease Control (CDC) were also discussed.

The minister urged the need for exchange of more experts in the health sector. It was noted that there was a need to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the Pakistan-USAID collaborative programme in the health sector. Both sides agreed to hold periodic monitoring meetings at the national level, inviting provincial officials and other stakeholders. app

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