Why we have focused on Mother & Child Health (MCH) particularly in rural areas of Pakistan?
Child Mortality
In our World Today
- 48 Countries had mortality rates greater than 1 in 10 childbirths, compared to 1 in 143 in developed countries.
- Among the Childhood Vaccine-preventable diseases, measles is the leading cause of child mortality, with over half a million deaths in 2000.
- Among the Childhood Vaccine-preventable diseases, measles is the leading cause of child mortality, with over half a million deaths in 2000.
- More than 11 million children die each year in the developing world from preventable illnesses.
- Every year, two million children die as a result of dirty water or improper sanitation facilities.
In Pakistan Today:
Mortality rate of children under 5 years old (per 1,000 livebirths) :99
1-year old immunized against measles (%) :78
What needs to be done? An overall increase in public spending on health is urgently needed so that immunizations are available to all, preventable diseases can be diagnosed and treated in their early stages, and more health care providers in public as well as private sectors are needed, particularly in rural areas.
Moral: Every child born into this world, no matter where they are from, deserves to live a rich and full life.
Maternal Health
In our World Today
- More than 500,000 women die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth every year.
- 99% of maternal deaths from childbirths occur in the developing world.
- Pregnancy is the leading cause of death for girls ages 15-19 in developing Countries.
- Worldwide, more than
- 50 million women suffer from poor reproductive health and serious pregnancy-related llnesses.
- Many pregnant women living in poverty, simply do not have transportaion to emergency medical facilities.
- In developing Countries, only about half of deliveries are attended by professional health staff.
In Pakistan Today:
Maternal Mortality Ratio (per 100,000 births): 500
What needs to be done? Providing fast access to medical centers can save millions of lives. It is also important to ensure that a midwife or doctor is present at every delivery. More young people need to be trained to help with education and awareness campaigns to expand reproduction health care services, especially in rural areas.
Moral: Bringing a baby into the world is a wonderful moment in a woman's life, but for many, it is a life-threatening event.