Daily Times

Sir: According to a report presented by a UK-based organisation, Save the Children, Pakistan has the highest rate of first day deaths and stillbirths at 40.7 per 1,000 births. Moreover in Pakistan, fewer than half of women have a skilled health worker present at birth.

A few decades ago, Finland also suffered from similar crises. To cope with this problem, the government started sending out some cardboard boxes to all the expectant mothers free of cost. Each box contained everything a newborn needs like clothing, outerwear, diapers, toys, books and the bottom of the box doubled into a crib. All the women had to do was to visit a certified doctor after four months of pregnancy to get the box.

This proved to be an idea bordering on genius because not only did it provide everything a baby needs in the first few months, it steered new mothers towards prenatal care. By following the example of Finland, the Pakistani government could also provide all the clinics and hospitals with these maternity kits so that they can be dispatched to women who come for their monthly check up since conception.

The medical staff could also educate parents regarding proper mother and baby care. Also if active measures are taken with the help of charitable organisations, significant discounts could be provided to low income families when it comes to delivery and maternity services so that every single child born in this country could get proper care and attention and parents do not have to suffer the loss of their new born just because they did not have enough money to get to a good maternity clinic at the time of birth.

AIMEN RAFIQUE

Karachi