Press Releases
U.S. Assistance To Improve Maternal Health Services
11/03/2004
Islamabad, November 3, 2004 - USAID/Pakistan has announced that a Boston based public health organization, John Snow Inc. (JSI), and five other organizations will assist federal, provincial and district governments to realize the objectives of the Pakistan Maternal and Newborn Health Initiative. The Agreement was signed October 15 by Ms. Catherine Mallay, Agreement Officer at USAID in Islamabad, and Dr. Theo Lippeveld, Vice-President of the International Division of John Snow Inc.
The U.S. and the Government of Pakistan signed an agreement in August that promised $50 million of development assistance. Under that Agreement, USAID will assist ten districts to improve health services that would lead to better birth outcomes.
This five-year PMNH initiative, valued at a total of $53 million, is a cornerstone of the United States renewed commitment to improving the lives and welfare of the people of Pakistan.
USAID's assistance in health targets ten of the twelve health and population objectives outlined in the Government of Pakistan's Ten-Year Perspective Development Plan 2001-2011. The Program also supports Pakistan's commitment to achieve steady progress on two Millennium Development Goals pertaining to maternal and child health. USAID/Pakistan and its implementing partners will work closely with provincial and district health teams in planning, implementing and monitoring the project.
JSI, renowned for its expertise and excellent maternal health programs in Egypt, Indonesia and Morocco, will work in partnership with a number of Pakistani and international organizations, including the Aga Khan Foundation, Contech, Greenstar, Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, PAVHNA, Population Council and, Save the Children. The members of this partnership and the collaborating organizations have extensive experience in implementing maternal and newborn care and public health projects in Pakistan and in other countries around the world.
The PMNH project will work with communities, government and local NGOs to strengthen maternal, neonatal and child health and to increase the health status of women and children in ten districts. It is estimated that the program will reach an estimated 2.5 million couples, and nearly 350,000 children under one year of age will benefit from the program.