Karachi: Sindh Minister for Health Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Dr. Nabeela Ali Country Representative USAID and Kayt Erdahl Director Health discussed areas where Sindh Health Department needs support.

Meeting discussed preventative healthcare and ways in which USAID has supported in past and can do so in present and future as well. Minister Health said that USAID helped Sindh Health Department with vaccines during times when Covid infections were at their highest. Dr. Azra added that urban areas of Sindh need better community outreach in order to improve their immunisation and meet their primary healthcare needs.

Tuberculosis has almost completely been dismissed as threat and there is no awareness about its spread or ways in which one can get infected. Minister Health said that over counter drugs and lack of stringent completion of treatment leads to drug resistant TB which is not impossible to treat, but more expensive and causes unnecessary suffering for patient.

She outlined that for needs of family planning in province there needs to be an increase in human resources that enable better counselling regarding subject for both men and women.

Parliamentary Secretary Qasim Siraj Soomro said that in order for there to be preventative healthcare, resources such as clean water and ample food with balanced diet are integral and that is going beyond healthcare but still contributes to health of community, therefore must be focused on.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 10 2023

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