Surgical equipment provided to midwives

MANSEHRA: The Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) programme in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency on Sunday provided surgical equipment to qualified midwives to establish birth stations in remote parts of Mansehra and Torghar districts.

“We are implementing a comprehensive strategy to set up birth stations in remote parts of the Hazara division to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates,” Dr Shah Faisal Khanzada, the district health officer, told a ceremony at the Community Midwifery School here.

The surgical equipment was given away to 14 qualified midwives for birth stations in the both districts.

“These midwives, who have previously undergone modern training courses in obstetrics, as well as pre-and post-natal care, will establish birth stations in remote areas of both the districts,” Dr Khanzada said. He said that the MNCH programme, in collaboration with JICA, has been operating in remote parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Mansehra, Battagram, and Torghar, where 24 such stations have already been established.

Dr Tariq Shah, a representative of the international programme, said that Dr Khizra Hayat, provincial coordinator for MNCH in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has been focusing on addressing maternal and infant health issues, particularly in rural areas.

The event was also attended by divisional social organiser for MNCH in Hazara, Hameed Turabi; district head Sayyar Khan and others.

“This is why local educated girls are first trained in modern healthcare and obstetric practices and then deployed in their respective communities to provide essential healthcare and obstetric services to pregnant and lactating mothers,” said Turabi.