Maternity Ward for JPMC

Karachi: As part of USAID’s commitment to Pakistan, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre will get a 120-bed maternity ward and the ground breaking ceremony of this new facility was attended by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, the outgoing US consul-general, Michael J. Dodman, USAID acting provincial director Dr Randy L Hatfield and the upcoming US consul-general Brian Heath.

The project is funded by USAID which is providing US $6 million for the project.

“The foundation that we establish here today is only one part of a broad US commitment to expand access to good quality healthcare for all Pakistanis, especially the people of Sindh,” said Dodman, adding that the United States has been a long and active partner in upgrading Pakistan’s healthcare sector.

“In 1959, Jinnah hospital became the first institution in Pakistan to provide postgraduate medical education,” recalled USAID’s Dr Hatfield. USAID also funded the construction of a $3.4-million obstetrics and gynecology ward at JPMC, which US Ambassador Richard G Olson inaugurated in December, 2012.

USAID has initiated a number of projects in the health, education and sanitation sectors, including construction of Jacobabad hospital at a cost of $10 million, the construction of 120 schools at a total cost of $165million and the implementation of municipal services delivery program worth $66million. The CM Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah also spoke on the occasion and highlighted his government’s performance in dealing with street crime and busting criminal gangs and militants in Karachi.

The ceremony was held amid extraordinary security measures and the project is expected to be completed within a year.