Health facility: Maternity centre set up in Khwazakhela Tehsil

The newly-launched unit is equipped with round-the-clock ambulances and medical staff.

SWAT:

The establishment of a maternity centre has been set up at Fateh Pur area of Khwazakhela Tehsil. Established by the People Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI), the centre would provide maternal car facilities to women. It will cover dozens of villages from Khwazakhela to Madyan and also parts of Matta Tehsil.

An ambulance will be available at the centre 24 hours to take emergency cases to the hospitals.  “It will be functional 24 hours with three Lady Health Visitors, an on-call female doctor and also maternity support staff. The centre has a full-fledged laboratory and ultrasound facilities while medicines will also be freely provided to the patients,” PPHI focal person, Imran Khan told The Express Tribune.

Earlier on, the women seeking gyneacology treatment had  to cover long distances to reach Saidu Sharif. “We had many problems in cases of maternity because we had no such centre in our area and had to go Saidu Sharif for treatment. It was not only expensive to travel to Said Sharif but also time consuming. We are happy to have this facility at our doorstep,” Rahim Zada, a resident of Bagh Dherai said.

Due to non-availability of a maternity centre or hospital in the area, the infant mortality rate has been high in the area. “There are many factors involved regarding infant mortality and deaths of pregnant women deaths in the area. Majority of the people are illiterate and lives in hilly areas,” said, Ifthikhar, a social activist of Miandam, adding that establishment of the centre is a landmark for the area.

The region comprises hilly tracts and remote area where people have no access to the basic facilities of life and lack of health facilities is topping the rest. “Medical facilities in such as maternity centres and basic health units are a dire need of these locals and should be addressed by the government on priority basis,” Naveed Khan, social activist.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2013.