Pakistan is the 6th largest country of the world by population with a major portion living in ruralareas. Despite the government setting healthcare as one of its primary objectives, the average spending on health is below 3% of the total allocated budget over the past 20 years. Health facilities for the rural poor in the present state are in total disarray.
Most private organisations do not find it financially
viable to set up health care services in rural villages due to several reasons.
Greater distances, lack of proper road networks and low population densities
discourage the private sector in investing in rural healthcare.
Villages in the outskirts
of Karachi and interior Sindh are the prime example of such rural areas. These
villages face serious health challenges with infectious diseases such as
gastrointestinal disorder, pulmonary tuberculosis, malaria and diarrhea being
very common. Moreover, malnutrition of children is another alarming problem.
According to a survey, the Global Acute Malnutrition rate among children
between 6 and 59 months old was more than 21% in southern Sindh, which is well above the World Health Organisation’s 15% emergency threshold.
HOPE-a health NGO in Pakistan has been active in Pakistan since 1997, under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla-Child Specialist in Karachi. It strives to improve the health and educational disparity of the deprived community in the country.
HOPE recently started a
project of Mobile Health Units(MHUs), whereby a group of doctors and paramedics
follow a schedule of relocation everyday. They set up camps at designated sites
and repeat the cycle every week. The patients are treated and provided with
free medicine. These MHUs care cost efficient and cover a vast area from Pipri,
south-east of Karachi, across the Hub of Balochistan.
Ever since this project was started with the generous
collaboration of Asia Petroleum, nearly 120-130 patients are examined on each visit. This leads to 24,000 patients being treated each year. Proper medical care is given to each patient, including free medicine. The common ailments normally diagnosed are diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, gastroenteritis, vomiting and malnutrition in children. In women, gynaecological and obstetrical problems are observed. In addition to treatment, community awareness regarding proper hygiene and cleanliness is also given to patients to prevent recurrence of disease outbreaks.
HOPE-a health NGO in Pakistan strives to improve the disastrous health care crisis all over Pakistan. The setting up of these MHUs helps move towards that goal, 26 villages at a time. HOPE stresses very strongly that only setting up of treatment facilities will not solve the problem. Preventive healthcare methods and practices need to be adopted by both the rural and urban population in order for a healthy society to develop within the country.
No comments:
Post a Comment