Daily Times

KARACHI: ‘Majority of the home base workers working in Thatta and Karachi are suffering from anaemia, backache and hypertension.’

This was disclosed a detailed survey conducted by Home Net Pakistan in collaboration with Aurat Foundation, Dept of Community Health Sciences, Hamdard Medical College and Department of Labour and Human Resource.

The survey report issued on Friday during a medical camp held in support of UN Women, at Shah Latif Homeopathic Medical college, Baldia stated that home based women workers of Thatta and Karachi were screened in detail and it was found that 50 percent of them were suffering from backache, 33 percent with multiple joint pain, 25 percent anaemia, 40 percent Hypertension and 25 percent of them were suffering from sleep disturbance.

“Majority of women were aged between 30-50 years, which shows that despite over age poverty has forced them to continue working and central obesity was also observed among them,” said the survey report. It added that over 30 percent of these women workers were also suffering from diabetes.

The report stated that the most common medical problem was related to musculoskeletal system which could be caused by prolonged sitting in awkward posture due to poor knowledge about ergonomic work station. The second most common medical problem diagnosed after screening of BP and Diabetes was hypertension. “It could be due to medical reason or work related stress caused by factors like low wages, excessive work and mental tension. Anaemia can be caused by nutritional deficiency and poor diet. Sleep disturbance shows that mental illness is also very common in home based workers,” said the report.

Talking to Daily Times, HomeNet Pakistan programme officer Naheed Syed said that after approval of Sindh Home Based Workers Act 2018 which guaranteed their rights as of formal workers, HBWs should be provided all facilities including health (OHS) facilities.

“They should be registered with Sindh Employees Social Security Institute (SESSSI) and hospitals established in Karachi should provide them with free of cost treatment,” added Syed. Naheed Syed was of the view that a mobile health service should also be established to provide basic preventive and curative service at the doorsteps of HBWs. She demanded that a system of referral be established at social security hospitals for investigation and management of complicated cases.

“The home based workers are an important and integral part of national economy. Their rights should be acknowledged and practical steps should be taken to address their grievances,” she added.

Published in Daily Times, December 1st 2018.