Sindh Chief Minister Inaugurates Mother and Child Health Centre in Jamshoro

Strategic Insights -

Syed Murad Ali Shah, the Sindh Chief Minister, has inaugurated a Mother and Child Health Centre in Liaquat University Hospital's Jamshoro branch, built with the financial support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to improve maternal and child healthcare. The centre, which has added 128 beds to LUH, will provide modern equipment, staff training programmes, and round-the-clock maternal and child health services.

Key Takeaways:

  • The healthcare facility was built with a cost of Rs331 million, with construction beginning in July 2018 and completed under Annual Development Programme 2025-26.
  • The centre will serve families across Hyderabad division and beyond, with the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) overseeing its operations.
  • The project is a "success story of international collaboration" and will strengthen Sindh's healthcare system for generations, according to the Chief Minister.
  • The centre will offer a 24/7 maternal and neonatal care facility to underserved areas, with the establishment of four new Satellite Healthcare Centres in other parts of the province.
  • The government has highlighted the role of mobile health units and telemedicine in reaching remote communities, with these services serving as "lifelines" for families who were once hours away from care.
  • The Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) has expanded into a province-wide network, offering one of the world's largest public neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) systems with over 262 incubators.
  • The institute treats over 500,000 children annually with a 91% survival rate, and infant mortality in Sindh has declined from 54 deaths per 1,000 live births to 29, a dramatic and verifiable improvement.

Statistics:

  • Rs331 million - the budget allocated for the construction of the healthcare facility.
  • 128 - the number of beds added to LUH with the establishment of the Mother and Child Health Centre.
  • 856 - the total bed capacity of LUH after the addition of the new centre.
  • July 2018 - the month when construction of the healthcare facility began.
  • 2025-26 - the fiscal year when the Annual Development Programme was completed.
  • 500,000 - the number of children treated annually by the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN).
  • 91% - the survival rate of children treated at SICHN.
  • 54 - the number of deaths per 1,000 live births in Sindh prior to the establishment of the SICHN.
  • 29 - the number of deaths per 1,000 live births in Sindh after the establishment of the SICHN.

Sources:

  • The Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah's speech at the inauguration ceremony.
  • The Pakistan Observer article "Sindh CM inaugurates Mother and Child Health Centre in Jamshoro".