KARACHI: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in Pakistan for the welfare of the people living below the poverty line have said that a variety of health issues such as malnutrition in children, iron deficiency in pregnant women, breast cancer and children’s contagious diseases could easily be overcome through ‘Public Private Partnerships – (PPP)’ in Pakistan.
While on a visit to a free medical camp held at Lyari, The Chief Executive Officer Green Star NGO Syed Azizur Rab said that there are NGOs in good numbers in nook and cranny in Pakistan catering to the poor and their role could be improved and enhanced under the auspices of the state institutions especially the government of Pakistan.
There is lack of trust on public healthcare institutions by the general public in Pakistan, which could be reduced and even reversed by patronizing the works of the NGOs, said Rab, adding that the Green Star held free medical camp at Khadija Bibi Clinic had received and treated at least 1500 poor women and children. This is in fact, a candid clear manifest of trust on NGOs by the people.
At the camp, expert medical doctors examined, advised and treated patients with breast cancer, family planning, ophthalmologic and dermatologic disorders and diseases. All who were treated there at the camp were also provided with medicines free of cost, he added further.
He said that the Green Star will continue to hold free medical camps so that the poor could get free treatment and free medicines at their door steps. However, this noble mission could be augmented farther with the active support of Government of Sindh because the later has achieved many milestones in public health sector. Government of Sindh should consider this free medical scheme under the umbrella of PPP.