Battling child mortality: ‘Highest cases of diarrhoea in country claimed by Sindh’

Sindh has the highest number of under-five deaths, which stands at 101 per 1,000 live births.


Our Correspondent August 24, 2013
Sindh has the highest number of under-five deaths, which stands at 101 per 1,000 live births. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ FILE

KARACHI:


Sindh is leading the other provinces in both the highest number of diarrhoea cases and the highest number of under-five deaths, which stands at 101 per 1,000 live births.


These figures were shared by Aga Khan University’s Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health founding director Dr Zulfiqar A Bhutta at a seminar on Thursday. According to his research, Sindh and Punjab have the highest infant mortality rate at 81 per 1,000 live births each, despite the obvious difference in population.

“Globally, fewer number of children are dying before their fifth birthday but in Pakistan the rate is still 89 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is much higher than what the average global rate was two decades ago,” said Dr Bhutta. “To be able to meet Millennium Development Goal 4, Pakistan would have to slash down the under-five mortality rate by 45 per cent, which is a humongous and intimidating task to say the least.”

Health officials of the federal and the provincial governments and representatives of international organisations were discussing the common fatal diseases among children at the seminar titled ‘Diarrhoea and Pneumonia: Global Action Plan and Implications for Pakistan’ at the AKU.

They said that curbing both the diseases required serious commitment and mass awareness. Three low-cost interventions such as oral rehydration, breastfeeding and community-case management can save the lives of thousands of children under five years of age who are suffering from pneumonia and diarrhoea.

The event was aimed at promoting and implementing the global action plan initiated in 2013 and formulated by the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organisation.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24th, 2013.

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