‘Maternal, child mortality may rise by 31%’

Experts highlight disruption of mother and child health services during pandemic

An increase of 31 per cent has been projected in Pakistan's infant and maternal mortality rates over the coming 12 months if health services remained suspended, warned Dr Shahzad Ali Khan, the head of public health department at Health Services Academy (HSA), on Thursday.

Citing the conclusions of a report published in medical journal Lancet at an online consultative session jointly organised by HSA and the Research and Development Forum for Safe Motherhood, he and other panellists addressed the challenges faced in providing mother and child healthcare services during the coronavirus pandemic.

Pointing out that Sindh had reported the highest Covid-19 tally in the country, he added that the pandemic-induced lockdown had badly disrupted the provision of such services, which was likely to reverse the improvements made in the past.

Dr Khan claimed that in a bid to find a solution to the problem, HSA, in collaboration with the Research and Development Forum for Safe Motherhood (RDFSM), had developed a strategic framework that suggests policy actions and steps for ensuring the continuity of such services, as well as family planning.

Along similar lines, Sindh Population Welfare Department technical adviser Dr Talib Lashari called for a "holistic response from the government, development partners and the private sector to ensure the provision of quality health services to marginalised women in rural and peri-urban areas of Sindh."

He further highlighted efforts made by the Sindh government to improve integrated maternal and child healthcare, nutritional and family planning services.

Dr Azra Ahsan of the National Committee for Maternal and Neonatal Health, too, expressed concern over mother, child and reproductive healthcare services coming to a standstill due to Covid-19.

"To address these challenges, particularly for women in remote areas, it is imperative to find innovative solutions," she stressed.

At this, renowned public health expert Dr Yasmeen Qazi suggested ensuring the provision of family planning services and contraceptives at all healthcare facilities.

Then, while lauding the Sindh government's efforts to integrate family planning and healthcare services and legislation for reproductive health rights, she emphasised that "the success of these measures will only be determined by how they are implemented at district and grassroots levels."

Drawing the session to a close, RDFSM CEO Dr Amanullah said more such sessions were needed as they helped in developing synergies for improving the country's healthcare system.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2020.