Seminar “Civil Society Perspective on Health Systems: Learnings from TACMIL Grants Project”
Technical Assistance for Capacity building in Midwifery, Information and Logistics (TACMIL) Health Project was initiated with financial and technical assistance of USAID to address selected MNCH issues in Pakistan. One of the activities under the project was to identify and address the problems in health systems in collaboration with civil society of the country. For that purpose twelve (12) grants were awarded to eleven (11) Pakistani NGOs to implement and pilot innovative models in eighteen (18) districts. The areas of health systems addressed by TACMIL Project grantees ranges from activating health management committees, safe motherhood, mobilizing health monitoring committees, improving in public private partnership, improvement in intra natal care through capacity building, increasing awareness of masses on MNCH issues and their rights and responsibilities in this regard, using of score card technique to ascertain quality and availability of health services, strengthening district health management, behavior change techniques, addressing three delays and improvement of maternal and child care service. Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), in collaboration of all partner organizations, arranged a seminar on to disseminate and share the experiences and lesson to ensure sustainability of these initiatives on November 16, 2009 at Serena Hotal, Islamabad. The seminar was attended by representatives of the implementing partners, i.e. AGAHE (Association for Gender Empowerment and Human Development); AQWDO (Al Qaim Women Development Organization); CPDI (Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives-Pakistan); GRHO (Gender and Reproductive Health Organization); HANDS; LEAD Pakistan; MAP (Midwifery Association of Pakistan); SPO (Strengthening Participatory Organization); SWWS (Swabi Women Welfare Society); Takhleeq Foundation; and Youth Organization. Also present were Mr. Asad Hafeez, Health System and Policy Unit, Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan; Ms Mary Cobb, Deputy Chief of Health, USAID; Mr. Zafarullah Gill, TACMIL Health Project, medical practitioners and other members of civil society. Ms Zeenia Masood, SPO, the master of ceremony, welcomed participants to the seminar and started the proceedings. Speakers at the seminar shared challenges in and recommendations for the improvements of health system in Pakistan. Challenges in and recommendations for betterment of health system in Pakistan, drawn from experiences of partner organizations of TACMIL, were presented to Mr. Asad Hafeez, Health System Strengthening and Policy Unit, MoH, Ms. Mary Cobb, Dy. Chief of Health, USAID and Zafarullah Gill, Chief of Party, TACMIL Health Project. Speakers hoped that the concerns and perspectives on health from civil society would be incorporated in health policy and planning to ameliorate the demand and service mechanism of health system in Pakistan. Harris Khalique, Chief Executive SPO, welcomed the participants and guests and set the tone of seminar by shedding light on the issue through civil perspective. He said “innovation is the hallmark of TACMIL Health Project and its successful models can be replicated by civil society organizations in collaboration with government.” Mr. Naseer Memon, Provincial Coordinator, LEAD Sindh, presented overview of TACMIL Health Project and concluded with recommendations for the amelioration of health systems in Pakistan. He laid special emphasis on bridging missing links between the beneficiaries and policy makers. Memon was of the opinion that ‘there is no shortage of infrastructure in Pakistan, but it is underutilized. Hence, health system is malfunctioning.’ TACMIL focused on making health system to function properly, he commented. Dr. Asad Hafeez said that treatment was available and needy people were there, but people did not get treatment. It shows that there were some factors that choked the flow of services to the clients. To address this situation evidence will be generated through research and presented to policy makers in a palatable form, he said. By doing so, linkage of evidence with policy would be established. Dr Hafeez suggested developing a national inventory of initiatives carried out by different organizations in health sector of Pakistan. “The purpose is to learn lessons from initiatives like TACMIL and feed these in policy making,” Hafeez commented. Ms Mary Cobb, Dy. Chief of Health, USAID, shared her views about TACMIL project. She said that the trick was to get the service to client. Cobb expressed her satisfaction that the health issues were on the radar screen of civil society organizations working in the health sector. Mary shared initiatives, such as regulating quality of health service providers through regularity authority. Dr. Zafar Ullah Gill, Chief of Party, TACMIL Health Project, lauded the partner organizations for sharing the results of TACMIL Health Project. He said ‘the project is geared to contribute to MDGs in collaborations with civil society organizations.’ Besides providing grants, the objective of the project was capacity building of partner organizations. If a component of health system does not work properly, then the whole system becomes dysfunctional. “Human resource, infrastructure and medicines are there, but somehow people are not getting medicine. It means there is a missing link. To tackle this challenge it is imperative to have a holistic approach to put the missing link in their place.” Zafar Gill said. The programme was concluded with vote of thanks from Zafar Zeeshan of SPO.
Terrorism in Pakistan
On the evening of 4th September 2008 Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed, Associate Professor of International Relations at the Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad was invited to the SPO national centre to speak on Terrorism in Pakistan, an issue that is presently agitating the minds of many in the country. Among the audience were students and members of Islamabad based rights based NGOs. Tracing terrorism’s historical roots, Dr. Ishtiaq said that in the case of Pakistan the mushrooming of religious extremists began with the decision of western powers to launch a ‘jihad’ in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union. Several groups were armed to fight against the Soviets and pro Soviet Afghan forces. Seven of these factions were supported by Pakistan and eight by Iran. They were used by international powers to fight against the Soviet Union, and later by Pakistan to fight in Kashmir. Typically, after the war was over, these groups became independent and, as has happened throughout history, turned on their erstwhile supporters. They invited Al Qaeda to Afghanistan, engaged in cruelties and excesses and, despite pleadings by the Pakistan government, destroyed the Bamiyan Buddhas. Madrasas were set up with foreign funding to prepare fighters for the jihad, but the talibanisation of Pakistan began in earnest when the Taliban seized control of Kabul. Sufi Mohammad launched his Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi in Swat, which was financed by criminals who had cases against them in courts of law for murder, rape, kidnapping and other heinous crimes, and sought to escape punishment by subverting the criminal justice system. ‘If Pakistan is seen as an ideological state there will always be people who will demand Shariah’, Dr. Ishtiaq pointed out. He believed that though the Partition had taken place because the Muslims as a group were economically subservient, the Muslim League had raised the slogan of Islam in order to mobilise support. Realising that this could lead to problems, Mr. Jinnah in his famous 11th August 1947 speech emphasised that tolerance and respect for diversity, not religion, would be the guiding principles for the country. To overcome terrorism Dr. Ishtiaq recommended that: Firstly, basic concepts needed to be debated so that a national consensus on the raison’etre of Pakistan could be arrived at. The nation has to decide if Pakistan was an Islamic state or a secular state guided by the 11th August speech of the Quaid-e-Azam, in which he declared that religion had nothing to do with the business of the state, and that citizens of different religions were equal. Secondly, the ambiguous attitude towards suicide bombers and terrorists had to be discarded. It must be clearly understood that religion does not permit the killing of unarmed civilians. The concept that ‘one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter’ is basically wrong. He emphasised that violence against unarmed people could never be justified, and that terrorism and violence could not succeed, only peaceful means lead to success. He cited the examples of Ireland and South Africa, where freedom was achieved when violent means were discontinued and peaceful means adopted. And thirdly, civil society should persuade religious political parties and scholars to oppose suicide bombings and violence. He reminded the audience of the golden age of Islam, and said that fundamentalists ignored the science and culture of this period when Muslims were not afraid of learning from others, and sought their inspiration from the tribal age before enlightenment. Defining terrorism, he said that terrorism was violence, which was politically motivated, deliberate and planned, against unarmed civilians, with the purpose of creating fear in a wider audience, by an individual or group of people. Should states also be called terrorist if they killed and inflicted violence? And if people killed by the terrorist were military or armed soldiers or police, would it count as terrorism? Answering these questions Dr. Ishtiaq reminded participants that international law permitted only states to use force. However, the state had to abide by the Geneva Conventions. During the discussion some thought provoking points were raised. For instance, what relationship did the arms industry have to militancy? And what part did poverty play in provoking people to adopt violence? It was pointed out that exploitation by capitalism could not be ignored. All Muslim countries, with the exception of Turkey, had undergone colonisation. Global injustice too molded societies to support radical movements. And international law cannot be applied equally because of great inequalities between nations. In response Dr. Ishtiaq gave the example of Africa, which too was poor and had undergone colonisation, but had not turned to terrorism to achieve justice. Perhaps there was a problem with the Muslim psyche? On this provocative note the discussion came to a close, as it was Ramzan and time to break the fast.
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SPO New website!
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Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
The ongoing militancy and military operation against Taliban in different regions of Malakand division in NWFP have produced the largest internal migration in the history of Pakistan. Within short time it has caused displacement of about four million people from their homes. As a result, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have been forced to settle in formal camps and with host communities across Pakistan especially districts of Mardan, Nowshera and Swabi. The overall result of mass displacement in a short time has appeared in the shape of humanitarian crisis. IDPs continued to experience poor sanitation, shortage of safe drinking water, lack of privacy and essential medicines. Moreover, the cultural barriers of IDPs further limited access of women to health care and other facilities which further generated psychological problems. Realising the intensity of the situation, Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) is providing relief assistance to the people who have been rendered insecure by the conflict. To assess the real situation, SPO collected data of families living with host communities. This exercise was necessary because most of the NGOs and INGOs focused on camps established by the government, whereas eighty percent of IDPs took refuge within the host families. The assessment study has facilitated in identification of the areas where IDPs were in urgent need of help. Immediately after the study, SPO launched assistance programme in Mardan District with the help of several humanitarian agencies including Oxfam Novib and Care International. The main objectives of SPO’s relief and response programme are: To reduce the short-term effect of the conflict on vulnerable groups living with host families by providing assistance through, NFIs and Health & Hygiene Kits Cash for Choice with special focus on women headed families and destitute To sensitize and generating awareness among the vulnerable families about hygiene practices and IDPs rights through training sessions. To establish mobile medical camps to reduce health hazards. To support women and children to bring them back to normal life through psycho-social support by creating women and child friendly spaces. Realizing the serious psychological effects of uprooting women and children from their surroundings, SPO has established sixty friendly spaces through its own resources and funding from other donors. In these spaces SPO arranged puppet shows, theatre performances and psychotherapy session with women and children who had traumatic experience. Such sessions are essential for the psychological rehabilitation of traumatized children. Following the practice of participatory approach, SPO has made partnerships with other organizations by providing relief and working for rehabilitation. Through financial assistance of Oxfam Novib, SPO has been able to reach to the people where aid has not reached yet. SPO is supporting approximately two hundred and fifty thousand affectees by providing NFIs and Hygiene Kits, cash for choice, awareness sessions on Health and Hygiene and holding advocacy on IDPs’ rights. To initiate early recovery and rehabilitation of IDPs, an assessment study in district Bunir, Nowshera, Mardan and Swabi is in the process. This study will be completed next week. In order to expand its area of operations within the conflict areas, SPO has finalized its operation plan for the rehabilitation of victims of conflict in Lower Dir. In order to make the implementation and rehabilitation systematic and effective, SPO is contributing to the formulation of rehabilitation policy and is certainly engaged in advocacy work.
Aawaz Qaumi Conference “ Hamara Pakistan Kaisa Ho Ga!” – February 2013
The conference, ‘Hamara Pakistan Kaisa Ho Ga’ at the PNCA marked the 30th anniversary of a movement launched by the Women Action Forum and the Pakistan Women Lawyers Association on February 12, 1983, to advocate against the law of evidence and the Hudood ordinance. The speakers repeated that the Hudood ordinance and the blasphemy laws should be repealed.
Insecure aid workers – December 25, 2012
By: Naseer Memon THE Aid Worker Security Report 2012 has grouped Pakistan among the five countries where aid workers face the most attacks.The other four include Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. The report was released only a few days before the country witnessed the brutal killings of several anti-polio campaign workers in Karachi and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within two days. The reaction of aid agencies like Unicef and the World Health Organisation was the immediate suspension of the immunisation campaign. Pakistan already has an unenviable public image and the country’s security credentials hit rock bottom after the attacks, with such incidents placing more strictures on aid workers.
Tender Notice – SPO Multan Offce
Strengthening Participatory Organization Multan Office invites sealed tenders from the well reputed suppliers / Registered Firms and manufacturers for the purchase of Computer equipment (Laptop,Desktop Computer, Printer, Scanner, UPS ) for its office as per following specification:- Desktop HP PRO 202 G1 MT Ci3-3240 with HP LED LV1911 – Quantity ( 22 Pieces ) Including HP KEYBOARD (K1500) & MOUSE (X500) Additional Information Operating System Microsoft Windows 8 Processor Type Intel Core i3 2nd Gen Processor Speed 3.4 GHz Processor Model i3-3240 Processor Cache 3 MB RAM 2 GB RAM Type DDR3 Hard Disk Capacity 500 GB Optical Drive Multi format DVD Writer OR Dell Optiplex 9020MT Ci5-4570 with Dell E2015H (having same additional information as mention above) Laptop HP ProBook 450 G2 – Quantity (5 pieces) Additional Information Intel Core i5 4th Gen 1.7/2.7 Ghz Processor, 15.6″ Widescreen, AMD Radeon Graphics , 4 GB RAM, 750 GB HDD, Multiformat DVD Writer, Webcam, Bluetooth, WiFi, Fingerprint reader, BackLit K/B, DOS OR Dell Inspiron N3542 Intel Core i5 4th Gen 1.7/2.7 Ghz Processor, 15.6″ Widescreen, 2GB AMD Radeon Graphics, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD, Multiformat DVD Writer, Webcam, Bluetooth, LAN, WiFi, Ubuntu Printer Quantity ( 2 Pieces ) HP LaserJet Pro 400 MFP M425dn OR HP LaserJet Pro MFP M225DW Scanner: Quantity ( 2 Pieces ) HP ScanJet N6310 UPS APC Smart UPS RT-1000 Quantity ( 11 Pieces ) GENERAL TERMS and CONDITIONS Vendor/Supplier should be a company registered with the Government of Pakistan. Separate Technical Specifications are available for each category. A vendor/supplier can apply for one or more tenders. The sealed bids with vendor profile, sample items and 5% of the total amount as refundable earnest money should reach the Head of Administration on the date mentioned in the advert. The cost of all taxes should be included in the rates quoted. Payment to vendor will be made within fifteen working days after goods delivered at SPO Multan office. The Vendor shall provide an invoice along with delivery challan signed by the individual receiving the items. The vendor(s) will issue a numbered receipt when they receive the payment/installment. If the numbered receipt is not available, a receipt on his/her letterhead, acknowledging the payment will be obtained. Performance security to be released upon successful completion of contract. In case of breach / delay in delivery, deductions up to 1% of the total amount on 3 days, up to 5% on 5 days delay and termination of Purchase Order beyond this period. The contract can be suspended or cancelled at the sole discretion of SPO and all monies due to the vendor / supplier forfeited. SPO will be at liberty to award the contract for any remaining unsupplied quantities to any other parties at the risk and cost of the supplier. The general conditions should be read together with the technical specifications. Inspection of goods by SPO may be done before delivery and at the time of delivery at distribution point. In case of dispute between the parties, the same shall be referred for arbitration under Pakistani law, and the award in such arbitration shall be final and binding. The bidder(s) can also mention any specific condition, which shall be taken into consideration before the award of supply orders. Goods to be delivered at the designated location of the organization as mentioned in the tender. If any bidder needs clarification on any technical specifications or general conditions, he/she must do so in writing. The clarification, if any, shall be issued to all bidders. Conditional tender or a tender without earnest money will not be considered in the competition. Earnest money of the bidders who failed to win the bid shall be returned to the concerned competitor, after the completion of contract awarding procedure to the successful bidder. SPO reserve the right to reject any or all bids without any reasons. Detailed tenders with samples and Earnest money which must be 5% of the quoted price in shape of Demand Draft in the name of SPO, Multan marked envelop with “CONFIDENTIAL” in the name of undersigned by courier or by hand on or before 24.04.2015 at 04:30 pm (Sharp). Chairperson, Procurement Committee Strengthening Participatory Organization House No.339-40/D, Shah Rukan-e-Alam Colony, Multan. 061-6772995, 6563604
Call for Vendors Prequalification
Furniture and Fixtures (such as wall cabinets, workstation, carpets, blinds, etc) IT equipments and accessories (such as laptop, USB, printer (Color & B/W), scanner, server, switch, toner, UPS, etc.) Office equipments (such as Photocopier, PABX, fax machine, multimedia projector, CCTV, shredder, etc.) IT and office equipment service, repair & maintenance Electronics (such as digital camera, video camera, TV, etc.) General items (such as gas heater, air conditioner, generator, fire extinguisher, etc.) Kitchen equipments (such as refrigerator, deep freezer, microwave, dishwasher, crockery, cutlery, etc.) Printing and publishing (such as booklet, brochure, newsletter, calendar, letterhead, reports, etc.) Vehicles service, repair maintenance & spare parts Transport/vehicle etc. hiring service Travel agent Office supplies (i.e. stationery, kitchen, sweeping, etc.) Office Security Providers of Insurance (i.e. life, medical and vehicle) Hotels, Guests Houses (for accommodation, food, hall, etc.). SPO intends to create a sector-wise database of quality vendors prequalified and further shortlist them for a period of one year to procure goods and services until next such exercise takes place. To prequalify, vendors must submit copy of National Tax Number (NTN), General Sales Tax (GST) registration certificate, list of organizations supplying goods/services, commendation letters, if any, company profile, list of products/items, undertaking on registered stamp paper that the firm has never been barred or blacklisted by any Government, semi-Government, national or international organizations and no case has/is registered against the firm in any court of law. Further, in order to be shortlisted, the companies should exhibit history of experience in area(s) of business along with supporting documents, proven ability to meet routine and emergency procurements in bulk/large quantities by the given deadline, where applicable. The application must state policy regarding warranty & compensatory claims, availability of managerial/technical support, number of employees/labor employed working with the firm along with proof of ownership, where applicable. The required form/questionnaire can be downloaded from our website: www.spopk.org, or can be obtained from the office from 0900 to 1700 hours, Thursday through Monday from 24th to 04th June 2018. Separate bidding templates may be filled in if applying for more than one category/sub-category specified in the documents. SPO reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications and to cancel the entire pre-qualification process, at any time without assigning any reason. Interested firms/parties should send their submissions through courier or registered post latest by 1700 hours on 04 June 2018 in sealed envelopes marked “VENDOR PREQUALIFICATION” in the top right corner at the address given below: For further details please visit www.spopk.org The Procurement Committee Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) 2nd Floor Plot # 18-B/1, Chohan Plaza G-8 Markaz Islamabad Tel No:051-2340445-48 Website: www.spopk.org. {phocadownload view=file|id=129|target=s} {phocadownload view=file|id=177|target=s} {phocadownload view=file|id=178|target=s} GENERAL TERMS and CONDITIONS Legal Status NTN registered GST registered and have regularly deposited applicable taxes in government treasury verifiable by the last six month’s sales tax return Separate Technical Specifications are available for each category A firm can apply for one or more items The sealed bids with vendor profile, sample items should reach SPO where required on the date mentioned in the notice In case of dispute between the parties, the same shall be referred for arbitration under Pakistani law, and the award in such arbitration shall be final and binding If any bidder needs clarification on any technical specifications or general conditions, s/he must do so in writing. The clarification, if any, shall be issued to all bidders There have been no legal proceedings invoked against the firm.