Maternal mortality ratio witnesses increase in country

PESHAWAR: August 2, 2011 Out of every 89 Pakistani women, each faces death of maternal causes, whereas complications of childbirth still account for one fifth of deaths among women of childbearing age, according to current available maternal mortality figures.

An estimated 5,00,000 pregnant women were among the 20 million people affected by last year's flash floods.

Their vulnerability was further exacerbated by malnutrition, trauma and fatigue due to long journeys to safer areas or camps, and by subsequent poor hygiene.

Given the immense needs, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with the government and civil society partners started to deliver urgently needed maternal health services through mobile service units as part of an outreach programme for areas that had no facilities, said a press release issued today Damaged health facilities were refurbished and female healthcare providers were recruited to restart basic services.

The fund, among other things, provided personal hygiene, newborn and clean delivery kits to tens of thousands of women.

Reproductive health equipment and supplies sufficient to cover an estimated population of six million were distributed within the past year, making this one of UNFPA's biggest humanitarian operations globally.

In August 2010, the fund's immediate response after the floods struck was to support basic reproductive health services for the displaced.

Now, fund is focusing on upgrading health facilities to provide comprehensive emergency obstetric care.

The floods brought to the forefront women living in rural and underprivileged areas of Pakistan, some of whom had never been to a doctor before.

Today, the emphasis is on helping flood-affected people rebuild their lives. "A vast majority of people have gone back but some are still here and are in need of services.