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New Delhi: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Thursday launched a Rs580 million (Dh49.7 million) initiative to improve maternal and child health in India, with a focus on Uttar Pradseh and Jharkhand.
The Maternal and Child Health Sustainable Technical Assistance and Research Initiative will work to accelerate the resource mobilisation of India's major programmes.
"Our aim is to bring real improvements in the lives of women and children. Led by USAID, our Indian partner organisations will help the initiative to achieve success," USAID mission director George Deikun said.
Funds mobilised
"We are investing Rs580 million and our Indian partners will also mobilise some funds. The funds will be utilised over a period of five years across India with a focus on Uttar Pradseh and Jharkhand," Deikun said.
"Each activity will respond directly to the programme and policy needs of Jharkhand and Uttar Pradseh. It will demonstrate policy and programme successes that can help others to emulate evidence based practices," he added.
"We need an extended reservoir professional research, public health and technical assistance institutions working at global standards that can support government programmes," said Naresh Dayal, secretary in the health ministry.
"Our country is growing well in almost all fields but our health indicators are poor. It's a shame to talk at international podiums about our health parameters. We are trying to better the situation," he said.
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