While other nations have been able to offer mothers and newborns improved healthcare, we have failed miserably in this regard. PHOTO: FILE/DFID
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 9th, 2013.
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Facts of Life-It is shocking to look at these figures revealed in the report. As you have mentioned here in your editorial that 60,000 babies die on the first day of their life, for me it is just like 150 air plane crash. Pakistan is a signatory to the UN Millennium Declaration and is fully committed to extend the agenda of providing basic right of health to all of its citizens. Pakistan suffers from high infant and maternal mortality, a double burden of diseases, and inadequate facilities to manage the pace of population growth. Slow progress in the indicators of maternal health, child health and their morbidity and mortality are major concerns for achieving Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5. The Ministry of Health was devolved in June 2011. Health has therefore become a provincial subject and provincial governments provide standardized service delivery through the implementation of minimum service delivery standards, ensuring regional equity through the development portfolio. The question which comes in minds after looking at such miserable health situation of the country is that how we can prevent these precious lives? Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments, with the support of key donors, should take actions to increase coverage of new and existing vaccines in all uncovered areas, increase funding and improve policies to increase the number of health workers and enhance their impact – through funding, equipping, training and task shifting – to deliver basic reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health care services.
the root of majority of the problems world wide is the lack of education and availability of contraception and child birth mechanics. That it self will reduce most of the problems like lack of food/ nutrition / clothing / falling buildings/ poor families/ children affected with polios / life style diseases / environment problems / terrorism and .....