Facts of life

Pakistan has the highest number of stillborn babies in the region at one-in-23.

If babies could choose, they would opt not to be born in Pakistan. Entering the world here exposes them to all kinds of dangers, with the country, according to a report released on May 7 by Save the Children, having the highest first-day infant mortality rate — one in 77 babies — in Asia. The report titled Surviving the First Day: State of the World’s Mothers 2013, explains that this accounts for 17 per cent of under-five deaths. It also states the 0.9 per cent annual decrease in infant mortality in the country is lower than the global average of 2.1 per cent. The report is the first to put out a Birth Day Risk Index, which tabulates the death rates for babies in their first day of life in 186 countries. Findings reveal that around 60,000 Pakistani babies died within the first day of life, accounting for 30 per cent of all newborn deaths.

The reasons given have been discussed before, and include a high rate of pre-term and underweight births, at 16 and 32 per cent respectively, the poor nutritional status of mothers and a lack of family planning. The country also had the highest number of stillborn babies in the region, at one-in-23, while one-in-28 do not live beyond the first year. The need for more health workers and improved breastfeeding practices to prevent this situation was also discussed.

Quite clearly, we are looking at disaster. Indeed, we have been looking at it for far too long. While other nations have been able to offer mothers and newborns improved healthcare, we have failed miserably in this regard. The issue has never been a policy priority, and it is women and children who suffer as a result. Most women in the country give birth in the absence of a trained attendant; they receive no ante or post-natal care. The situation can change only if the government makes the issue a priority, and takes far more active measures to offer maternal and child healthcare while also raising awareness about this issue and all those related to it. Only if this happens can the lives of people be changed.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2013.