KARACHI: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stepped up to improve healthcare system of Balochistan – the most poorest and neglected provinces of Pakistan.

As per details WHO will rehabilitate as many as 100 primary healthcare centers in at least a dozen of districts of Balochistan badly damaged in last year’s monsoon rains and heavy flood and provide them the required medical equipment and solar systems.

According to Quetta Voice the 2022 torrential rains and floods in Balochistan damaged more than 700 Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centers (RHCs). The floods damaged many buildings of the BHUs, and some buildings are even not able to be used.

This had severely affected the health services in all 26 flood-hit districts of Balochistan.

The medical staff was facing difficulties in the treatment of patients because of the lack of equipment and the damaged BHUs.

The provincial health department and WHO has just recently signed six memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in this regard at a ceremony held on Thursday, according to Daily Dawn.

The ceremony was attended by WHO country head Dr Palitha Mahipala, Health Minister Syed Ehsan Shah and Health Secretary Muhammad Saleh Nasar.

Under the MoUs, WHO will rehabilitate 100 primary healthcare centres in 12 districts and provide medical equipment, furniture and solar systems. Under the agreement, the provincial health department will ensure continuity of health services through human resources and ensure supplies from the health system.

On the occasion, equipment and vehicles donated by WHO for National Maternal and Newborn Child Health programme were handed over to the health secretary.

The solar system for the provincial EPI cold chain room was also inaugurated. The system would save fuel bills of around Rs80 million annually.

Speaking at the ceremony, the provincial health minister thanked the WHO country head for providing not only the medical equipment but also medicines for flood-affected people.

The health sector is already suffering because the government of Balochistan is continuously ignoring it. The situation is worse in the far-flung areas of the province when it comes to health facilities.

The floods disrupted the health system all across Balochistan, particularly the Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Reginal Health Units (RHUs) in Lasbela, Jafarabad, Pashin, Naseerabad, Killa Abdullah, and Kohlu.

The floods damaged 700 BHUs out of which 278 are completely destroyed and are totally inactive, according