My Observation

Topic

ROLE OF DISTRICT HEALTH MONITORING COMMITTEES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF HEALTH

SERVICES IN SINDH

Organized by

STRENGTHENING PARTICIPATORY ORGANIZATION (SPO)

Venue

Regent Plaza, Karachi

Chief Guests

DR. Abdul Ghaffar Billo

(Health Expert and Chairman HANDS)

Dr. Suresh Kumar

(Special Secretary Health)

Dr. Mehboob Khuwaja

(Co-Chairman Hands)

Universe/Selected Areas

Badin

Tando Mohammad Khan

Matiari

Sharing

Chairman of the Health and Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) Dr Abdul Ghaffar Billoo, health department special secretary Dr Suresh Kumar, executive district officer of community development department of Matiari district Qurban Ali Memon, Dr Zahida Jamali of Tando Mohammed Khan, regional head of the SPO of Karachi Elahi Bakhsh, Karachi SPO programme officer Rahima Panhwar and Sangrasi Programme Officer of the SPO of Hyderabad region Abdul Wahid..

Summary

After recitation, Guests were introduced in the ceremony and individually participants introduced themselves and after introduction session Rahima Panhwar was called for the welcome note.

Rahima Panhwar welcomed the audience while said that SPO has been working to strengthen the masses since a number of years and its first time in sindh that SPO monitor health institutions (BHU) and educational institutes in the remote areas of sindh.

She said that SPO collected data for the purpose of the evaluating the institution services to masses in sindh.

She also said that SPO conducted the survey with the collaboration of CBOs, NGOs, Legislators and community people.

The SPO informed the audience about the findings of a survey they conducted in these three areas of the province with the help of local community organizations and district governments.      

Mr. Ellahi Bakhsh Baloch said that through survey it has been observed that there are no facilities of drinking water, sanitation and waiting rooms, especially for women visiting the facilities in BHUs.

He said that coordination & cooperation of the government and efficient Research & Development would change the current system.

He urged that government should take further steps for the reformation of the Health Facilities in the rural areas of Sindh.

Qurban Ali Memon appreciated the role of the SPO for its findings which would be shared with government officials at provincial level to improve the healthcare system. He said the Government needs to resolve the community health issues through findings and indicators in relevant districts.

He said the research task was hard to perform at grassroots beside that SPO rendered its efforts in this regards.

He also said the SPO with partnership of NGOs conducted a baseline survey to assess the quality of services in health in the Badin, Matiari and Tando Mohd khan.

Dr. Zahida Jamali said there is no communication gap between PPHI (Peoples Primary Health Institutions) and SPO. Meanwhile SPO facilitated different equipment’s, generator, wash rooms, labor room and Ladies waiting room in 10 BHUs of Tando Mohd Khan.

She said that PPHI is working in 18 districts of Sindh and recently government of Sindh purchased 56 Ambulances from PPHI annual budget and delivered to the community stations.

On the occasion Special Secretary for Health Suresh Kumar said the SPO survey observation shown actual condition of the institutions and soon health issues would resolve.

He urged SPO to take further steps of survey regarding health issues in other districts of Sindh.

He said that collective approaches and contributions towards resolving issues of community would bring reforms in the society. He said that on the directives of the Secretary for Health Initiatives has been taken regarding shortage of medicine, negligence of staff and unavailability of facilities in the institutions.

Chairman of HANDS Dr. Abdul Ghaffar Billoo appreciated SPO survey in the relevant districts.
He said that 80 per cent health facilities were available, but there were gaps in the delivery of services.
He urged that Primary healthcare is a basic human right which should be expanded at enlarges scale in remote area. He said that Public Private Partnership Module is effective beside other so it need to execute in this regards.
He emphasized the need for strengthening of monitoring, supervision and evaluation system in the health sector.
He also said that In future the SPO should follow the health indicators while compiling findings in surveys in other districts.
Mr. Ellahi Bakshsh Baloch Thanked to the audience for the participation in the ceremony.

Findings

·         Total BHUs = 70

·         Functional BHUs=68

·         Worthless = 2

·         Equipment’s =19%

·         Laboratories= not sufficient

·         Ambulance=4%

·         Functional Wash rooms= 59

·         Waiting Rooms Visiting Faculty Male = 60%

·         Waiting Rooms Visiting Faculty Female = 7%

·         Lady Doctors are not more than one in per institute.

·         Availability of Medicine = 37%

District Health Monitoring Committees (DHMCs)

These committees were formed for the enumeration in the relevant district.

Union Council (UC) = one Male + one Female = Two

Town                         = one Town Monitoring officer

District                     = one District Monitoring Officer

Health Officials facing problem

·         Absenteeism of staff

·         Low performance of available staff

·         Political interference

·         Resource limitation

·         Limited role in decision making

Partner organizations

·         HANDS (Badin)

·         AGHAZ (Tando Mohammad)

·         SHDES (Matiari)

Participations

·         Government Officials

·         Non-government organizations

·         Journalists/Media person

·         Politicians

Public Opinion

 Different peoples shared their views

Agenda

Time	activity
10:00 – 10:30	Registration and reception
10:30 – 10:40	Tilawat
10:40 – 10:50	Welcome and Objectives – Ms Raheema Panhwar
10:50 – 11:20	Sharing of SPO Health Survey Findings – Mr Ellahi Bakhsh Baloch
11:20 – 11:30	Experience sharing of District Health Monitoring Committee- Mr Qurban Ali Memon, Chairman District Health Monitoring Committee - District Matiari
11:30 – 11:40	Experience sharing of District Health Monitoring Committee- Ms Zahida Jamali, Representative of Health Department - District Tando M.Khan
11:40 – 11:50	Experience sharing of District Health Monitoring Committee- Dr. Mehboob KHuwaja, Co-Chairman District Health Monitoring Committee - District Badin
11:50 – 12:30	Open Discussion – Concept of Community monitoring
12:30 – 12:50	Reflection of Special Secretary Health – Dr. Suresh Kumar
12:50 – 13:20	Conclusion – Dr. Abdul Ghaffar Billo, Health expert and Chairman of HANDS
13:20 – 13:30	Vote of Thanks – Mr. Ellahi Bakhsh Baloch