The Tibet Autonomous Regional Department of Public Health plans to convert Tibet's Second People's Hospital into a province-level maternity and child care hospital in 2010.

There are at present no provincial maternity and child care hospitals in Tibet, according to Phurbu Drolma, director of the department.

File photo shows a woman (L) receives medical checkup at a hospital in Dagze County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 9, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)

"To enhance the health care level for women and children, we plan to convert the Second People's Hospital of Tibet to such a hospital for them," he added.

The central and regional governments have financed 11.65 million yuan (about 1.71 million U.S. dollars) on a project in the region to reduce the maternal mortality rate and eliminate infant mortality rate caused by tetanus.

The project is now carried out in Tibet's 74 counties as against 50 counties last year.

Professional training and health education will be provided to people involved with the project in these counties next year.

Meanwhile, emergency centers with highly qualified medical personnel and advanced equipment for pregnant and lying-in women will also be established.