Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Advisor Ihtisham Ali has said that maternal and child health is a top priority of the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Advisor Ihtisham Ali met with a high-level delegation of the province’s leading paediatricians, led by former senator and renowned child health expert, Dr. Mehr Taj Roghani, here on Friday.
During the meeting, wide-ranging discussions were held on key areas concerning maternal and child health, neonatal care, promotion of breastfeeding, activation of the Khyber Institute of Child Healthcare, strengthening of the Lady Health Worker (LHW) Programme, establishment of Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and daycare centres, and the promotion and capacity building of paediatric super-specialist services across the province.
Advisor Ihtisham Ali assured the delegation that under his leadership, the Health Department is taking all necessary and result-oriented steps to sustainably address the province’s pressing child health challenges.
“Maternal and child health is a foundational pillar of our public health policy. We are committed to deploying all available resources to ensure modern, efficient, and accessible healthcare services for our people,” he stated.
The Advisor highlighted the government’s commitment to institutionalising breastfeeding support as a policy and budgetary priority.
He informed the delegation that relevant departments have been mobilised to ensure implementation of the revised Breastfeeding Act, which includes robust regulatory frameworks to curb unethical marketing of formula milk.
The delegation was also briefed on progress toward the full operationalisation of the Khyber Institute of Child Healthcare, which will serve as a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to advanced paediatric care in the province.
Advisor Health added that top-performing officers will be appointed to lead the institute, and that transparency and accountability in healthcare governance remain central to these efforts.
Referring to the LHW programme, Ihtisham Ali noted that measures are being taken to revitalise community-based health outreach, especially in underserved areas. He also shared that a list of the top 30 paediatric super-specialists in the province has been finalised, with the aim of strengthening referral systems and access to specialised paediatric care.
The delegation appreciated the Health Department’s ongoing reform efforts and shared expert recommendations related to child health services.
Ihtisham Ali welcomed the suggestions and directed the concerned officers to take immediate steps to translate those recommendations into practical action.
Concluding the meeting, the Health Advisor expressed gratitude to the delegation and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to collaborative progress.
“Real change is only possible through joint efforts by medical professionals, policymakers, and the community. We welcome every sincere initiative that advances the public good and protects the health of our children,” he said.
