UNHCR, KP government sign MoU to strengthen health services for refugees, host communities

Press Release

PESHAWAR: The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Health, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to support the provincial immunization programme.

Under the signed MoU with the Provincial Department of Health, UNHCR will support the provincial government to effectively administer immunization services to all Afghan refugees residing in refugee villages (RVs) and host communities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Head of UNHCR Sub-Office in Peshawar Oscar Mundia, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Secretary Health Abid Majeed and Additional Commissioner of the Commissionrate for Afghan Refugees exchanging documents after signing MoU on strengthening health services for Afghan Refugees and host communities in Khyber Pakthunkhwa. (c)UNHCR/Riffatullah

Since 2010, UNHCR has spent Rs 2.83 billion (USD 27.14 million) in the health sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of which, Rs 1.34 billion (USD 12.9 million) has been spent on health projects in refugee villages and Rs 1.49 billion (USD 14.2 million) under the Refugees Affected and Hosting Areas (RAHA) programme.

Speaking at the occasion, Oscar Mundia, Head of UNHCR Sub-Office in Peshawar said, “UNHCR values its collaboration with the Department of Health as together we will strive to achieve the goal of providing improved healthcare services for all including Afghan refugee children across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

UNHCR under its RAHA programme has contributed to the KP health sector through various projects and provided support by upgrading health facilities in KP and will continue its support in 2017. UNHCR will also continue to fund 42 vaccinators during 2017; who will work in the refugee villages and host communities to cover the refugee target population.

The Director EPI will provide technical assistance to the staff working in the refugee villages and host communities by enhancing their capacities in administering vaccination and maintain the cold chain storage facility and handle new antigens.