After the bilateral Strategic Dialogue meeting in Islamabad today, U.S Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the first phase of a three-year, $28 million Signature Health Program for Pakistan. The U.S. and Pakistan have consulted closely on the shared objectives of addressing Pakistan’s National Health Policy, which outlines the priorities for the nation, including family planning, maternal and child health, workforce development, and combating infectious diseases to meet the Millennium Development Goals. Under the new Signature Health Program, the U.S. will undertake three projects for the renovation and construction of medical facilities:
- Karachi Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center: The U.S. will finance the design and construction of a 60-bed obstetrics and gynecology surgical and fistula ward and a training institute for up to 150 under- and post-graduate medical students. The hospital handles more than 18,000 inpatients, 31,000 outpatients, more than 5,000 operations and 17,000 annual deliveries.
- Lahore Lady Willingdon Hospital: This facility, which is the largest maternity hospital in Pakistan, is currently operating well over capacity with – on average – roughly three women to a bed. The renovated facilities will include new wards, a midwifery school and doctor/nursing hostels.
- Jacobabad Civil Hospital: The U.S. will provide technical management assistance and renovations to the Jacobabad Civil Hospital, a 162-bed facility which serves a population of approximately 1 million people in Northern Sindh and Balochistan. The hospital serves about 700 outpatients per day, with about 4500 surgeries and more than 2000 deliveries per year.
