Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has approved a plan for upgradation of 103 basic health units (BHUs) to reduce maternal mortality rate (MMR) and enhance skill birth attendance in the province.

Well placed source in Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (P&SHC) privy to this development told Daily Times that the provincial government had selected 18 districts including Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, DG Khan, Jhang, Kasur, Khanewal, Layyah, Lodhran, Mianwali, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Okara, Pakattan, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Toba Tek Singh and Vehari to improve obstetric and gynaecological care at the BHUs

Earlier, the 24/7 Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) services were started in 2010 in the selected BHUs of seven flood-effected districts DG Khan, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Mianwali, Bhakkar and Rahim Yar Khan. After remarkable achievement in the said plan, it was decided to implement it across the province in three phases.

Around 150 BHUs were upgraded in phase-1 in 16 districts in 2013-14, 550 BHUs (including 150 remaining BHUs of phase-1) and 200 BHUs in phase-3 were upgraded in 32 districts in 2014-15.

It may be mentioned that 302 rural health centres (RHCs) and 700 BHUs are providing maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) across the province.

According to an estimate, Punjab being largest province of Pakistan is battling hard to increase its skilled birth attendance rate where 41 percent delivers are being conducted by unskilled workers at homes. Only 53 percent deliveries are being conducted at health facilities, sources said and added that 47 percent deliveries were being conducted at homes.

Sources said that letters had been written to the district coordination officer (DCOs) and EDOs (health) of 18 districts informing them that the chief minister had approved creation of 618 new posts to provide service round-the-clock at these 103 model BHUs.

This includes recruitment of 206 lady health visitors (LHVs), 206 ayas and 206 security guards. A sum of Rs 227.50 million has been allocated for the said plan while Rs 116.18 million is allocated for salaries. Under the plan, the LHVs will be paid Rs 2,500 per delivery on the basis of more than five verified deliveries in a month.

An amount of Rs 56.11 million has been earmarked for procurement of medical equipment, besides Rs 51.50 million that may be allocated for renovation of labour room and one quarters for a lady health visitors at the BHUs which are to be upgraded.

These funds will be transferred to the health councils and an amount of Rs 3.71 million may be allocated for medicine allowance. Maintenance of primary and secondary healthcare facilities including BHUs is the responsibility of the district government concerned. As such, the requisite financial resources will to be provided by the respective districts government from their own budgets.