KARACHI: The Department of Health, Government of Sindh, has taken a major step towards advancing maternal and child health services by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PPHI Sindh and the Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP) to pilot AI-enabled handheld ultrasound devices at primary healthcare facilities in underserved districts.
The initiative, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will see 20 devices deployed across six districts. The project is designed to expand access to life-saving diagnostic imaging for pregnant women in rural areas where conventional ultrasound facilities are unavailable. Importantly, the pilot will also measure the impact of AI-enabled ultrasound on early enrollment in the Sindh Social Protection Authority’s Mamta Program, which provides financial and healthcare support to expectant mothers.
At the signing ceremony in Karachi, Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho highlighted the government’s commitment to bringing innovative solutions to frontline healthcare. She noted that integrating AI-enabled ultrasound at the primary level would help remove barriers to care, strengthen referral pathways, and ensure better outcomes for pregnant women and newborns across rural Sindh.
The Gates Foundation also praised Sindh’s leadership in leveraging innovation for public health. According to program officials, the collaboration will ensure that pregnancies are assessed at earlier stages and more mothers receive timely care, reducing preventable complications.
Under the pilot, ultrasound services will be incorporated into routine maternal and child healthcare at primary facilities linked with the Mamta Program. Health workers will undergo comprehensive training on safe device use, scanning protocols, and effective referral systems. This approach is aimed at ensuring continuity of care from community health centers to secondary and tertiary-level hospitals.
The partnership reflects Sindh’s broader vision of using technology and evidence-based solutions to strengthen its health system and reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in underserved communities.
