UTHAL, Oct 29 (APP): The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has handed over a 250-kilowatt solar-powered medical supply warehouse to the Balochistan Health Department in Uthal, Lasbela district, a development expected to enhance the timely delivery of medicines and vaccines across the province while significantly reducing transportation costs.
Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar, Health Secretary Mujeebur Rehman Panezai and UNICEF Chief Field Officer Fitsum Assefa visited Lasbela to inspect the newly established warehouse equipped with modern facilities.
The delegation also reviewed services at the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital. Commissioner Lasbela Division Saira Atta, Deputy Commissioner Lasbela Humeira Baloch, Provincial EPI Coordinator Dr Aftab Kakar, UNICEF representative Dr Aamir and other officials were also present on the occasion.
Speaking to media representatives, Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar described the establishment of the state-of-the-art warehouse with UNICEF’s support as a significant step towards strengthening the healthcare system in Balochistan. He expressed gratitude to UNICEF for its continued cooperation, praising the contribution of donor organizations, particularly UNICEF, to the province’s health sector.
The minister said that in the past, medicines arriving from other cities were first transported to Quetta before being distributed to different districts of Balochistan, resulting in additional time and logistical challenges. He noted that efforts were underway to improve the supply chain by dividing the province into central, south and north zones. The warehouse in Uthal, he added, would play a key role in ensuring efficient delivery of medicines to various regions.
Bakht Kakar emphasized that the use of solar energy had become a necessity in the modern era, as countries around the world were increasingly shifting towards clean energy solutions. He said the provincial government was taking practical steps to meet healthcare needs despite limited resources, while the adoption of renewable energy would also contribute to environmental protection.
Health Secretary Mujeebur Rehman Panezai said UNICEF had consistently extended valuable support to the Health Department on various occasions, for which the provincial government remained thankful. He highlighted the strategic geographical location of the Uthal facility, stating that it would serve as an important distribution center for medicines and vaccines used in the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and polio eradication campaigns across different districts of Balochistan.
According to UNICEF, medical supplies were previously transported from Karachi and Islamabad to Quetta before being distributed to other districts, increasing both delivery times and operational expenses. Under the new system, medical supplies can now be delivered directly from Karachi to Lasbela, enabling faster distribution. The facility is expected to cater to the needs of nearly 40 percent of the surrounding region.
The warehouse is equipped with a modern solar power system, inventory and information management mechanisms, security features and temperature-controlled storage facilities to preserve medicines and vaccines. The facility was also used to store polio vaccines during the recent anti-polio campaign.
Meanwhile, the DHQ Hospital Lasbela has been fully converted to solar power, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply around the clock while helping reduce energy costs, further strengthening healthcare services in the district.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
