ISLAMABAD: The Japanese government announced an additional grant of approximately $4.43 million for a project aimed at expanding maternal and child healthcare services in Sindh.
As per a press release from the Japanese embassy, this supplementary funding is designated for the “Project for the Extension of Maternal and Child Healthcare Facility in Sindh,” initially introduced in August 2021 with an original budget of about $22.76 million.
Under this initiative, a new maternal and child health center is slated to be established at the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) in Jamshoro. This facility will encompass departments for obstetrics and pediatrics, including crucial amenities such as a labor room, obstetrics ward, neonatal intensive care unit, maternal and fetal intensive care unit, laboratory, and outpatient consultation rooms.
Moreover, approximately 120 pieces of medical equipment, including newborn incubators and ultrasonic diagnostic devices, will be procured and installed. The project’s completion is anticipated by April 2025.
The press release emphasizes that Sindh currently faces a scarcity of care facilities to address complications during childbirth, placing strain on tertiary hospitals in Karachi and Hyderabad. By enhancing accessibility and survival prospects, particularly for families across southern Sindh, the project aims to alleviate this pressure.
Notes for the additional grant were formalized through signings and exchanges between Japanese Ambassador Wada Mitsuhiro and Economic Affairs Secretary Dr. Kazim Niaz. Additionally, amended grant agreements for the project were finalized between the Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Pakistan, Naoaki Miyata, and Economic Affairs Joint Secretary Saeed Ashraf Siddiqui.
The decision to provide supplementary funding was prompted by a request from the Pakistani government due to cost discrepancies caused by fluctuations in exchange rates and market prices, as highlighted by the Japanese ambassador. He noted that upon completion, the project is expected to benefit over 20 million people, making it one of Japan’s largest grant initiatives worldwide.
In a separate announcement, Japan also disclosed an additional grant of around $5.5 million for the “Project for Installation of Weather Surveillance Radar in Sukkur.” This project, initiated in January 2021 with an original budget of approximately $13.12 million, addresses Pakistan’s vulnerability to natural disasters such as floods, landslides, cyclones, and earthquakes.
The press release underscores that the Sukkur radar installation, coupled with previous support for radars in Islamabad, Karachi, and Multan, will significantly enhance weather forecasting capabilities, covering nearly 90% of Pakistan’s territory. This support aligns with Pakistan’s flood recovery efforts as articulated during the Geneva conference last year, further strengthening Japan’s commitment to bolstering Pakistan’s disaster risk management initiatives.
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