Paediatric, women reproductive health in a state of neglect: Report
Lack of trained staff, operational delivery rooms in Rural Health Centres is a cause of concern.
ISLAMABAD:
Paediatric and female reproductive health in the country has been observed to be in a state of neglect, according to a Health Institution Monitor by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) released here Monday.
The report said that out of the 72 Rural Health Centres (RHC) monitored by FAFEN in 61 districts nationwide during January, 19 per cent lacked operational delivery rooms. Delivery kits were missing in 17 per cent RHCs, while 83 per cent of monitored RHCs did not provide food commodities to vulnerable groups, including lactating mothers and malnourished children. Moreover, dental rooms, ophthalmology rooms, operation theatres for minor operations and laboratories were also absent in several RHCs.
The report also revealed that the condition of these health centres for other treatments was also “dissatisfactory”. Around 17 per cent of RHCs did not have trained staff to attend to Tuberculosis patients, while lack of basic equipment for diagnosis and treatment of diarrhoea and malaria was also observed. A significant number of RHCs did not even have gas and telephone line connections, the report added.
It was also observed that 14 per cent of RHCs had no laboratories. While equipment necessary for diagnosis and treatment like ECG machines, X-Ray machines, and oxygen tents were absent in 61, 39 and 24 per cent of the 72 monitored RHCs respectively. Furthermore, syringe cutters and sterilisers were absent in 18 per cent and 14 per cent of monitored RHCs, indicating the possibility of re-use of syringes and use of unsterilised medical equipment.
Apart from these deficiencies, functional ambulances were not present in 22 per cent of the monitored RHCs, which has negative implications for the emergency services of the respective facility. Power backup arrangements (generators) were also unavailable in 36 per cent of RHCs, which can have potentially hazardous effects, especially when an operation is being carried out. Moreover, wheelchairs and stretchers were lacking in 29 per cent and 14 per cent of monitored RHCs respectively.
The absence of medical services adds to travel and accommodation costs for patients, who will have to seek treatment in other areas. Also, if treatments are spread over several sittings, it further increases the overall costs of treatment.
The lack of attention from the higher authorities meant that many of these centres are not even frequented upon by the officials to note their state.
Around 62 visits were made by government officials and elected representatives in the past three months to the 72 RHCs. A total of 38 RHCs were visited in 28 districts of Punjab, 21 in 18 districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, eight in nine districts of Sindh and five in six districts of Balochistan. Information about visits by any elected representative, including MNAs and MPAs, was not shared with FAFEN.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2011.
Paediatric and female reproductive health in the country has been observed to be in a state of neglect, according to a Health Institution Monitor by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) released here Monday.
The report said that out of the 72 Rural Health Centres (RHC) monitored by FAFEN in 61 districts nationwide during January, 19 per cent lacked operational delivery rooms. Delivery kits were missing in 17 per cent RHCs, while 83 per cent of monitored RHCs did not provide food commodities to vulnerable groups, including lactating mothers and malnourished children. Moreover, dental rooms, ophthalmology rooms, operation theatres for minor operations and laboratories were also absent in several RHCs.
The report also revealed that the condition of these health centres for other treatments was also “dissatisfactory”. Around 17 per cent of RHCs did not have trained staff to attend to Tuberculosis patients, while lack of basic equipment for diagnosis and treatment of diarrhoea and malaria was also observed. A significant number of RHCs did not even have gas and telephone line connections, the report added.
It was also observed that 14 per cent of RHCs had no laboratories. While equipment necessary for diagnosis and treatment like ECG machines, X-Ray machines, and oxygen tents were absent in 61, 39 and 24 per cent of the 72 monitored RHCs respectively. Furthermore, syringe cutters and sterilisers were absent in 18 per cent and 14 per cent of monitored RHCs, indicating the possibility of re-use of syringes and use of unsterilised medical equipment.
Apart from these deficiencies, functional ambulances were not present in 22 per cent of the monitored RHCs, which has negative implications for the emergency services of the respective facility. Power backup arrangements (generators) were also unavailable in 36 per cent of RHCs, which can have potentially hazardous effects, especially when an operation is being carried out. Moreover, wheelchairs and stretchers were lacking in 29 per cent and 14 per cent of monitored RHCs respectively.
The absence of medical services adds to travel and accommodation costs for patients, who will have to seek treatment in other areas. Also, if treatments are spread over several sittings, it further increases the overall costs of treatment.
The lack of attention from the higher authorities meant that many of these centres are not even frequented upon by the officials to note their state.
Around 62 visits were made by government officials and elected representatives in the past three months to the 72 RHCs. A total of 38 RHCs were visited in 28 districts of Punjab, 21 in 18 districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, eight in nine districts of Sindh and five in six districts of Balochistan. Information about visits by any elected representative, including MNAs and MPAs, was not shared with FAFEN.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2011.