The United States and Pakistan signed a $41.8 million agreement to fund critical health programs to improve the lives and well being of the Pakistani people over the coming year. The health programs will be administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the Government of Pakistan and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), said a U.S. Embassy Islamabad statement. The agreement was signed by USAID Director in Pakistan Jonathan Addleton. The Secretary of Economic Affairs Division, Khalid Saeed, had previously signed the agreement. Principal Officer, Bryan Hunt of the U.S. Consulate, Lahore and Secretary Health Punjab, Javaid Malik witnessed the signing. Hunt addressed event participants, saying, “The United States has been providing substantial assistance to respond to the Pakistani people's healthcare needs. Our assistance is coordinated with the Government of Pakistan to make Pakistani lives better by improving health care delivery and controlling infectious diseases.” The USAID Health Program provides assistance to improve the quality and use of mother, newborn and child health services, increase access to birth spacing methods, improve administrative and financial management of primary health care programs, and help prevent or control infectious diseases like tuberculosis, polio and HIV/AIDS. One of the major components of USAID's health program is the Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) http://mail.yahoo.com
