The First Lady, Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, and the Health Minister, Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, assessed flood readiness at the 450-bed Institute of Mother and Child Health (IM and CH) in Nawabshah on Friday. The high-profile visit focused on the facility”s capacity to handle potential flood-related emergencies, especially concerning the well-being of mothers and children.

Executive Director Dr. Ali Akber Siyal and Dr. Sania Ali Haider, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, welcomed the dignitaries. Other attendees included Dr. Jamal Raza, Executive Director of SICHN; Dr. Gulshan Memon, Vice Chancellor of PUMHSW; department heads; and local officials like the Deputy Commissioner and SSP Shaheed Benazirabad.

The delegation examined key units, including the Pediatric High Dependency Unit (HDU), the ventilator-equipped Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with incubators and ventilators, the Gynecology HDU, the operating room, and the labor ward. Discussions centered on bolstering maternal and child health services, promoting interdepartmental cooperation, and elevating patient care.

The IM and CH, Nawabshah, handles a substantial patient volume, attending to 970 pediatric outpatients, 440 gynecology and obstetrics outpatients, and 25 pediatric surgery outpatients daily. It is a critical healthcare provider for area women and children.

Beyond infrastructure evaluation, the First Lady also reviewed the hospital”s contingency plans for floods and other crises, stressing the need for well-equipped medical services prepared for a potential super flood. She underscored the significance of readiness to protect susceptible groups, especially mothers and children, during natural calamities.