Embassy of the United States

Press Releases 2008

Close Window

Islamabad, August 18, 2008 - USAID signed three Memorandums of Understanding with corporate sector firms Mobilink, Medentech, and Unilever Pakistan Ltd.

enlarge photo

Islamabad, August 18, 2008 - USAID signed three Memorandums of Understanding with corporate sector firms Mobilink, Medentech, and Unilever Pakistan Ltd.

USAID Joins Hands with Corporate Sector to Improve Health of Pakistanis

August 18, 2008

Islamabad - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signed three Memorandums of Understanding today with well-known corporate sector firms Mobilink, Medentech, and Unilever Pakistan.

“USAID is helping Pakistani communities to have access to clean water and adopt sanitary practices that save lives,” said Ms. Kathleen McDonald, Director Health, Democracy and Governance, USAID/Pakistan. “We look forward to find new avenues with this innovative partnership with corporate sector while we serve our common objective of helping the citizens of Pakistan live a better and a healthier life.”

Signed through the USAID-funded Pakistan Safe Drinking Water and Hygiene Promotion Project, these agreements will help leverage the strengths, expertise and resources of the private sector to aid Pakistan in achieving the Millennium Development Goal of significantly reducing the incidence of diarrhea through safe drinking water and hygiene promotion.

By signing the Memorandum of Understanding, Medentech ensures that a large number of households in 40 districts will have an easy access to Aquatabs. Similarly, Unilever re-affirms its commitment to cut down the incidence of diarrhea-related deaths by promoting hand washing with soap and creating better hygiene awareness among the vulnerable rural communities. Mobilink supports the USAID-funded Pakistan Safe Drinking Water and Hygiene Promotion Project in communicating critical messages concerning safe drinking water and hygiene in main local languages, using the same approach as its Kissan (Farmer) Helpline Service.

Since 2002, the U.S. Government has provided more than $2 billion to Pakistan to improve economic growth, education, health, and governance and to assist with earthquake reconstruction.