Islamabad, February 4, 2009 - Twenty-four health and population managers from Balochistan and NWFP graduated today from the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID's) leadership workshop for providing client-centered services. The nine-day workshop trained health managers to develop and deliver health and family planning services that meet the needs of Pakistanis.

"We hope that this training has provided you with useful knowledge and skills to help you become a voice for better maternal and child health in your districts, including reliable and client-centered birth spacing services," said Kathleen McDonald, Acting Deputy Mission Director, USAID/Pakistan, while addressing the participants of the training.

The workshop was part of USAID's five-year, $60 million Family Advancement for Life and Health (FALAH) program. The FALAH Program increases the availability of high-quality reproductive health care to Pakistani couples in efforts to significantly reduce Pakistan's high maternal and infant mortality rates. FALAH operates in 20 districts in Pakistan and it is implemented by a consortium, led by the Population Council.

Since 2002, the U.S. Government has provided more than $2 billion to Pakistan to improve economic growth, education, health, and governance, and to reconstruct areas affected by the October 2005 earthquake.