Agenzia Fides

Peshawar (Agenzia Fides) - In Pakistan, one woman out of 89 dies every day from diseases associated with pregnancy, over 500 babies die due to lack of adequate maternal and neonatal health care (MNH), particularly in the Tribal Areas of the Federal Administration (FATA), Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These findings emerge from an evaluation study carried out by SoSec Consulting Services in collaboration with the Research and Advocacy Fund (RAF) to identify the health services in the most turbulent areas, especially for those who have limited access or no access at all. Natural disasters, economic and political situations in the tribal areas and in some parts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, social barriers, very limited mobility for women, lack of transportation, lack of knowledge concerning health services, population displacement, damaged health facilities poverty, high prices related to private health services, are the causes of the lack of maternal and newborn health care, which help to increase mortality. To minimize the number of deaths of women and newborns efforts should be focused on restoring assistance and on improving the situation of law and order in these areas, in order to mitigate the suffering of people in need. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 24/10/2012)