There is a critical shortage of medicines, doctors and paramedical staff in hospitals.
ISLAMABAD: It is a sad reality that women in Sindh face grave and chronic health problems. Over 60 per cent of poor women do not have access to public healthcare services. There is a critical shortage of medicines, doctors and paramedical staff in hospitals at the district and taluka levels in the province.
Regrettably, past governments did nothing to improve the basic health services for the people and particularly, for women in 21 districts of Sindh. Even now, the provincial health department has not made female healthcare its priority.
Since women are the backbone of Sindh’s rural economy, it is imperative that the government take concrete steps to improve the health and education of women in the province. Indeed, the time has come for pragmatic action to deal with the situation. Is there anyone in the corridors of power who could pay attention to this problem and launch a programme to improve female healthcare in Sindh on a war footing?
Hashim Abro
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2012.
