Sindh Government Spokesperson Sukhdev Hemnani has said sustained investment by the PPP-led provincial government in maternal and child healthcare is producing measurable results.

He said Sindh is increasingly setting benchmarks in public healthcare, particularly in neonatal and paediatric emergency services.

Hemnani said Sindh’s neonatal mortality rate has fallen to 2.9%, compared with a national average of 5.4%.

He also highlighted the province’s partnership with ChildLife, which began in 2010. According to him, the programme has transformed paediatric emergency care across Sindh.

More than one million children now receive emergency treatment each year through paediatric emergency rooms across the province, he said.

Paediatric Emergency Network Expands

Hemnani said modern paediatric emergency facilities have been established at nine major teaching hospitals.

He added that a 24/7 telemedicine network now covers all 105 tehsils of Sindh.

The initiative aims to ensure that every child, including those living in remote areas, can access quality emergency care within 30 minutes. The service is available around the clock and free of cost, he said.

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Hemnani also pointed to international assessments as evidence of progress.

He cited a US-based PALISI Global Health study that recorded mortality among critically ill children at 1.2% at Civil Hospital Karachi and Sheikh Zayed Children Hospital Larkana.

The study recorded a 1.4% mortality rate at Aga Khan University Hospital. The average across comparable facilities in 19 countries was 6.3%, according to Hemnani.

Civil Hospital Achieves SafeCare Level

Hemnani said the Children’s Emergency at Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi has achieved the highest 5/5 SafeCare Quality Level.

He added that specialised paediatric and neonatal services have also been further institutionalised through the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN).

These initiatives, he said, are designed to strengthen specialised healthcare for children and newborns across the province.

Maternal Healthcare and Nutrition

Hemnani said the government’s healthcare strategy begins before birth.

Through the Mamta Programme, more than one million pregnant and lactating women have been enrolled, he said.

He added that Sindh is also implementing targeted measures to address malnutrition, stunting and maternal nutrition.

“These outcomes show that sustained investment can produce measurable improvements in healthcare,” Hemnani said.

Sindh Aims to Strengthen Healthcare System

Hemnani acknowledged that significant challenges remain and said more work is needed to address gaps in healthcare delivery.

However, he described the progress as significant, measurable and independently recognised.

He attributed the provincial government’s healthcare agenda to the vision of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the commitment of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.

Hemnani said the government would continue strengthening the healthcare system and addressing its shortcomings.

He added that Sindh’s emerging public healthcare model could offer lessons not only for other provinces but also for the wider region.