Sindh to Hire Thousands of Lady Health Workers and Vaccinators

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has approved a comprehensive four-year (2025-29) healthcare improvement plan aimed at enhancing community access, strengthening routine immunization, and improving governance in the province’s healthcare sector.

During a high-level meeting at the CM House, he reviewed key performance indicators of the Health Department and set global standards and specific healthcare targets, particularly focusing on women’s and children’s health.

Key Approvals & Initiatives

1. Expanding Community Outreach & Routine Immunization

• Sindh’s current routine immunization coverage stands at 69%, with a target to reach 95% by 2026.
• The government plans to recruit 5,500 Lady Health Workers (LHWs) and Community Health Workers (CHWs).
• 5,250 medical kits & IT equipment (including GPS-enabled mobile phones) will be provided.
• 3,500 vaccinators & technical staff, including cold chain & software engineers, will be hired.
• 21,084 essential tools, such as temperature monitoring devices, fridge tags, mobile phones, SIM cards, and motorcycles, will be distributed.
• The HPV vaccine will be introduced, targeting 2.8 million vaccinations by 2028.
• Cold chain and waste management systems will be improved through solar-powered facilities in 35 divisional centers.

2. Strengthening Nutrition Services (2025-29)

• 11 new Nutrition Stabilization Centers (NSCs) & 714 Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP) sites will be set up by 2026.
• This initiative aims to treat 1.24 million malnourished children under five years.
• Nutrition programs will include Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), F-75 & F-100 supplements.
• Operational support will be extended to 17 stabilization centers.
• Preventive measures include iron & folic acid supplements and breastfeeding counseling for mothers & adolescent girls.
• 1,440 awareness sessions will be conducted over 30 months, with 360 sessions planned for 2026.

3. Prevention & Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

• To combat diabetes, hypertension, and other NCDs, screening units will be established in secondary healthcare facilities.
• Early detection services will be expanded to Primary Healthcare Units (BHUs), targeting 350 screening facilities by 2026.
• The initiative includes 8 Training-of-Trainers (ToT) sessions & 158 district-level training programs.
• 1,440 screening camps will be set up across the province by 2028.

4. Enhancing Governance & Surveillance

• A robust Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) system will be introduced to increase annual healthcare facility visits to 48,000.
• Real-time data tracking will be implemented through live dashboards in 40 districts.
• The Health Management Information System (HMIS) will be integrated with DHIS-2 to improve decision-making.
• 900 IT devices will be procured to ensure timely reporting.

5. Healthcare Facility Maintenance & Upgrades

• A major Maintenance & Repair (M&R) project has been approved, covering tertiary, secondary, and primary-level hospitals.
• The restoration of 109 tertiary hospitals, 91 secondary hospitals, & 572 primary health units is planned, including 122 key facilities in 2026.
• Two new medical & surgical towers will be constructed at Civil Hospital Karachi.

6. Strengthening the Nursing Sector

• To address the shortage of nursing professionals, evening shifts will be introduced in 20 nursing colleges.
• 443 new teaching & non-teaching positions will be created.
• Scholarships for 1,125 BS Nursing students have been approved.
• Infrastructure development includes 10 new science labs, renovation of 10 nursing colleges, & procurement of 20 vehicles for student mobility & outreach programs.

A Commitment to Universal Healthcare Coverage

CM Murad Ali Shah reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening community-based healthcare interventions, modernizing governance mechanisms, and ensuring universal healthcare coverage across Sindh.

These initiatives are expected to create a more efficient and sustainable healthcare system, particularly improving health outcomes for women and children across the province.