Daily Times

Sir: This is to draw the attention of authorities to the ratio of women’s death during delivery or after childbirth is increasing day by day. A Global assessment published by UNICEF in February highlighted that Pakistan loses 14,000 women die in childbirth every year; translating into one death every 37 minutes.

There exists consensus that the maternal mortality rate represents an important indicator of a nation’s overall health.

About 99 percent of all maternal deaths occur in under developed areas. These lives are lost due to a shortage of staff in hospitals, improper check-ups during pregnancy and poor roads that take much time in reaching a hospital or maternity home.

According to Population Council estimates, Punjab suffers 302 maternal deaths per 1000 live-births and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 275. This raises important questions over the available of facilities at the district level. Beside that the traditional method of birth such as delivery by untrained midwives is also a major reason for maternal mortalities.

The recent UNICEF report highlights a dark side of our society that only 39pc of pregnant women are provided with trained nurses.

The availability of services must be improved, particularly in poor and rural areas. The 18th Amendment and devolution of health to provinces also offers a unique opportunity for focusing attention on the health and nutrition of women and children where it matters, at the district level. This needs to be tackled on an emergency basis & Government should establish maternity homes in rural areas.

SAMIYA NOUREEN

Lahore

Published in Daily Times, November 14^th 2018.