Balochistan health crises: 11% children die before fifth birthday

UNICEF says over 52% children in the province are chronically malnourished.

QUETTA: For every 1,000 live births 111 children die before their fifth birthday in Balochistan.

This was disclosed by UNICEF Communication for Development Specialist Dr Jawahir Habib in a media orientation workshop jointly organised by UNICEF and Balochistan government on Monday.

“In every 1,000 live births 111 children die before their fifth birthday in Balochistan and 97 of these children die within one year of their birth.”

She said that 60% of these deaths are due to communicable and vaccine preventable disease and only 16% of the children in Balochistan are fully immunised and protected against eight diseases.

Over 52% children in the province are chronically malnourished, Dr Jawahir Habib said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2014.