The Sindh Community Mobilization Program (CMP) – under the USAID-funded Sindh Basic Education Program (SBEP) – signed a sub-contract with Aga Khan University’s (AKU) Human Development Program (HDP) for technical assistance in the implementation of CMP nutrition activities.
The sub-contract signing ceremony was attended by US Ambassador to Pakistan David M. Hale, US Consul General Brian Heath, USAID Deputy Mission Director Craig Buck, Director General Health Government of Sindh Mr. Hassan Murad Shah, Dean of the AKU Medical College Dr. Farhat Abbass and other senior officials from USAID, Government of Sindh, Aga Khan University, and civil society organizations.
Left to right: US Ambassador to Pakistan David M. Hale; Dean of the AKU Medical Colege Dr. Farhat Abbass; US Consul General Brian Heath; and CEO Aga Khan Hans Kedzierski.
Dr. Farhat Abbass welcomed the participants and expressed his gratitude to USAID for this partnership. He stated that, “the partnership between AKU-HDP and CMP will pave the way for a bright future for the children of Sindh through investment in health, education and nutrition.”
Mr. Naveed Ahmed Shaikh, CMP Deputy Chief of Party, shared a brief overview of CMP and stressed the importance of this partnership in achieving the nutrition objectives of the program.
Dr. Ghazala Rafique, Director AKU-HDP, shared the salient features of CMP and AKU’s partnership, including training of the CMP team, pre- and post-screening of children and formative research in CMP focused schools. She mentioned that this partnership is a testimony of AKU’s contribution in the areas of health, education and research. Additionally, she noted that the effective implementation of this program will bring a positive impact.
Mr. David M. Hale, US Ambassador to Pakistan stated, “Education plays a vital role in improving children’s health and nutrition. No nation can reach its full potential if its people are not healthy and educated.”
Ambassador David M. Hale addressing participants during the sub-contract signing ceremony.
USAID also awarded a grant to Aga Khan University to mainstream education for children with special needs and increase enrollment for girls in government and private schools. The effort is part of the “Let Girls Learn” initiative in Pakistan to ensure girls receive the education they deserve, announced by First Lady Michelle Obama and Maryam Nawaz Sharif at the White House in October 2015. To further promote this initiative, USAID provided US$70 million to further educational improvement in Pakistan.
After all the remarks, Rafique, Director HDP and Shehzad Mehmood, COP Sindh Community Mobilization Program, signed the sub-contract to formally execute the partnership.
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Sindh Community Mobilization Program
