KARACHI: A 100-bed hospital was inaugurated on Thursday for children under the age of 15
The hospital near Nagan Chowrangi was funded by not-for-profit Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
In his speech Health Minister Dr Sikander Ali Mehndro said, “This is a masterpiece. A blessing for children.”
In his speech his highness Ambassador of Japan Mr Takashi Kurai said that In June 2015 the Japanese government through its not-for-profit organization JICA added 100 beds to the Sindh Government Children’s Hospital which had only 100 beds. The construction and installation of equipment was completed at a cost of Rs1.7 billion.
Dr Asif Zaman project director and medical superintendent of SGCH said that the project is now working under a public-private partnership. Its a joint venture between JICA who is primary donor and Poverty Eradication Initiative and Sindh Government
Everyday more than 1000 children from infants to 15 year-olds are coming to the OPD, Dr Zaman said, adding that, the number will be doubled with the addition of 100 beds.
The hospital has capacity of 200 beds, with state of the art nursery and pediatric intensive care unit.
On the other hand Hospital officials claim that equipment and drugs at the hospital have reached its expiry date, wasting crucial resources.
In June 2016 JICA had sent several reminders to the Sindh government which has done nothing but embarrass the foreign delegation which has used tax money of the Japanese people for refurbishing this hospital, sources added
While asking about the delay Health Minister Dr Sikander Ali said that the Sindh government had planned to run the hospital on a public private partnership and to find a viable and genuine partner.
The hospital is the second biggest children’s hospital after National Institute of Child Healthcare.