$ 6.5 Million Gates Foundation
Grant for NCHD
Dr.Nasim Ashraf |
The National Commission for
Human Development in Pakistan has received a grant of $ 6.5
million from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its Primary
Health Program.
“We are very pleased to support the National Commission
for Human Development’s efforts to improve rural health
in Pakistan,” said Dr David Flemming, Director, Global
Health Strategies for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The three main projects to be implemented with these funds
include National Oral Rehydration Solution (Nimkol) Project
in which 6.75 million mothers in 45 districts across the country
will be trained on how to make and administer this simple
but effective remedy that can prevent unnecessary child deaths
from diarrhea. The national ORS campaign will be formally
launched in March 2005.
The School Health Program will train school teachers to screen
their students for illness and educate them on personal hygiene
in 17 districts.
The third project to be undertaken with the Gates grant is
the proven NCHD model of primary health care focusing on health
education preventive measures such as immunization and growth
monitoring as well as child spacing. This model employs community
outreach through family health workers and will also improve
the functioning of the basic health units.
Commenting on this grant, National Commission for Human Development
Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf stated, “We are very thankful
to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their confidence
in National Commission for Human Development. It is a good
breakthrough and will significantly help in our effort to
address the health care needs of the rural people in the remote
areas of Pakistan.”
According to National Commission for Human Development officials,
so far the Commission has mobilized over $ 16 million from
private sources since its inception in 2002.
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