Overlooked Contributions of PPHI District Support Managers in Reviving 164 Basic Health Units in Balochistan
Overlooked Contributions of PPHI District Support Managers in Reviving 164 Basic Health Units in Balochistan
The People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI) in Balochistan, launched in 2006–2007, has been instrumental in delivering primary healthcare to the province’s dispersed and underserved communities.
Managing over 750 Basic Health Units (BHUs) across the province through a public-private partnership with the Government of Balochistan, PPHI has made significant strides in improving healthcare access.
Central to this progress are the District Support Managers (DSMs), whose efforts in reactivating 164 previously non-operational BHUs have been largely unrecognized.
District Support Managers are the backbone of PPHI’s operations, overseeing the management and functionality of BHUs in their districts.
Their duties encompass coordinating healthcare delivery, ensuring the availability of essential supplies, monitoring staff performance, and engaging with district administration and local communities.
They provide critical services such as maternal and child health (MCH) care, immunizations, and preventive health services.
DSMs conduct regular and unannounced inspections to maintain service quality and address issues like staff absenteeism, a persistent challenge in the region.
A recent milestone saw 164 BHUs restored to functionality, potentially serving 1.2 million patients annually. This achievement underscores the dedication of DSMs, who have worked tirelessly to overcome logistical, financial, and infrastructural hurdles in some of Balochistan’s most remote areas despite the prevailing unwanted security situation in the province.
Restoring 164 BHUs to operational status is a remarkable feat, given Balochistan’s rugged terrain, sparse population, and resource constraints.
Many of these facilities were previously non-functional due to dilapidated infrastructure, staff shortages, and inadequate supplies. DSMs have addressed these challenges through infrastructure upgrades, where they have spearheaded efforts to repair and renovate BHU facilities, ensuring access to basic amenities like clean water, sanitation, and functional medical equipment.
These efforts align with the provincial government’s recent focus on digital monitoring of healthcare facilities.
Apart from that, staff recruitment and capacity building to address chronic absenteeism and skill gaps, DSMs have overseen the hiring of over 3,000 personnel, including doctors, paramedic staff, and auxiliary staff.
Moreover, through initiatives like health awareness sessions in schools and community meetings, DSMs have fostered greater public engagement, encouraging the use of BHU services and reducing reliance on traditional remedies.
Whereas, to ensure all these efforts do not go in vain, PPHI Balochistan has introduced accountability measures such as an enhanced monitoring system through ODK and other mechanisms implemented by DSMs in their respective districts to improve transparency and ensure efficient resource utilization.
Despite their contributions, DSMs face numerous challenges that are often overlooked by the provincial government, as the government claims credit for healthcare improvements without recognizing the critical role of PPHI and its DSMs.
The recent operationalization of 164 BHUs, for example, has been attributed to government efforts, sidelining DSM contributions.
The restoration of 164 non-functional BHUs in Balochistan highlights the critical yet underappreciated work of PPHI’s District Support Managers.
Their efforts in upgrading facilities, recruiting and training staff, securing medicine supplies, and engaging communities have transformed healthcare access for millions. However, the Government of Balochistan’s failure to acknowledge these contributions, coupled with ongoing challenges like limited funding and political interference, threatens to hinder progress.
To achieve a sustainable healthcare system, the government must recognize the role of PPHI DSMs, provide robust support, and address systemic issues like absenteeism and infrastructural deficits.
Only through such partnership can Balochistan ensure equitable healthcare for its people.
