High rate of infant mortality in Pakistan is matter of great concern: Kh Salman

Lahore: Advisor to Chief Minister on Health, Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that very high rate of maternal, neonatal and infant mortality in Pakistan is matter of great concern for every one especially policy makers, health managers and medical experts and there is a need for vigorous struggle to control maternal mortality and achieving MDGs.

He said this while addressing a two-day International Neonatology Conference, organized by the Neonatology Group of Pakistan Pediatric Association in a local hotel. The Organizing Secretary of the conference, Dr Khawaja Ahmad Irfan Wahid informed that eminent national as well as international neonatologists are participating in the conference. He said that it is the first academic activity of this magnitude conducted by the Neonatology Group of PPA, aimed at apprising the neonatologists and paediatricians with updates in this subject.

Khawaja Salman Raffique observed that rapid increase of population, limited resources, malnutrition and lack of awareness about the health issues among the folk women are the basic causes of creating health hazards for mother and child. He said that Health Department is striving hard for creating awareness among the rural women regarding child birth under the supervision of skilled birth attendance (SBA). He said that labour room facilities under the supervision of lady doctors, LHVs, nurses and SBAs are being provided at BHUs, RHCs level and 24/7 facility in selected health centers is also being provided for safe delivery. Khawaja Salman Raffique further said that pneumonia and diarrhea are the major killers of new born children. He said that iron deficiency due to malnutrition among the pregnant women make them anemic which produce many complications like still birth etc.

Khawaja Salman Raffique said that Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has directed to setup three more children hospitals in Punjab for providing best health facilities to the children. He disclosed that Rs. 10 to 12 billion would be spent on this project. Khawaja Salman Raffique appreciated the efforts of the organizers for holding the conference and said that such academic activities are very helpful for updating the knowledge of experts and producing new ways for the success of medical experts. A number of senior peadriatitions, neonatologists including Prof. Sajid Maqbool, Dr. Sajjad-ur-Rehman, Dr. Asma Razzaq, Dr. Arshad Khushdil, Prof. Mubaris Naqvi, UNICEF, National MNCH Programme Dr. Shoaib, Dr. Haseen Dil, Dr. Saima Asghar and other experts addressed the conference and share their experience and knowledge on the subject.