Indus Hospital and Health Network Hands Over 40 Water Filtration Plants to Sindh Government in a Landmark Initiative to Combat Water-Borne Diseases

In a significant step towards improving public health and enhancing infrastructure resilience, the Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) officially handed over 40 newly installed water filtration plants to the Provincial Government of Sindh in a ceremony held at Government Hospital, Shah Faisal Korangi, Karachi. The event marked a major milestone in addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis following the 2022 floods in Pakistan, which devastated infrastructure and severely impacted access to clean drinking water.

“This initiative underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing humanitarian crises and highlights the commitment of all stakeholders towards improving public health and infrastructure resilience,” said Dr. Azra Pechuho, Honorable Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare, during her address at the ceremony.

Dr. Mah, Executive Director of the Community Health Directorate at IHHN, provided a detailed briefing on the project. She explained that the devastating floods in 2022 led to a surge in waterborne diseases due to the widespread destruction of drinking water resources. To address this critical issue, IHHN worked closely with the Government of Sindh to identify 40 priority locations in 22 of the most affected districts for the installation of water filtration plants.

Emphasizing the collaborative nature of the initiative, Dr. Mah highlighted the role of technical assessments conducted by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) in guiding the construction of the plants. Additionally, UNICEF’s technical assistance ensured that the installations adhered to rigorous quality standards. “Eighty percent of these plants have been equipped with solar panels, providing essential backup power and addressing key needs identified in the PCRWR report,” Dr. Mah added.

Dr. Zafar Zaidi, CEO of IHHN, emphasized the strategic placement of filtration plants across secondary-level health facilities in flood-affected districts. “These plants, utilizing both Reverse Osmosis and Ultra Filtration technologies and capable of producing up to 50,000 gallons of clean water per day, are essential in ensuring access to safe drinking water in facilities with high daily patient volumes,” Dr. Zaidi remarked.

Following a successful operational testing phase, and overseeing smooth functioning of the plants for the past six months, the formal handover by IHHN to the Sindh Government marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle to combat waterborne diseases and secure sustainable access to clean drinking water in regions devastated by the floods.

Provincial Health Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Dr. Azra Pechuho, visited the new hospital building of Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) in Korangi. Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, President of IHHN, and Prof. Syed Zafar Zaidi, CEO of IHHN, welcomed the Honorable Minister and provided her with a detailed tour of the new Emergency Medicine Ward and OPD clinics. Dr. Pechuho expressed her satisfaction and gratitude, commending the creation of such a world-class facility. She particularly highlighted the vital role of the Sindh Government’s contribution in realizing this large-scale healthcare initiative, which will benefit hundreds of thousands of patients. Dr. Pechuho also thanked IHHN’s management for their relentless efforts and their partnership with the Sindh Government through public-private partnerships (PPPs) in DHQ Badin and the Regional Blood Centers (RBCs), which she described as flagship initiatives of the Sindh Government.

The ceremony concluded with Dr. Abdul Bari, President of IHHN, presenting a commemorative shield to the Honorable Minister, listing all 40 installation sites as a testament to the project’s success.