Basic Health

Basic Health

4. Health & Nutrition 


Health and nutrition profile of Pakistan[1], as evident from country’s performance on various health and nutrition indicators, presents amoderate picture. Key health indicators regarding child and maternal life expectancy,i.e., neo-natal mortality rate, infant mortalityrate, and under-5 mortality rate showed improvement in year 2021 as compared to theprevious year. Maternal mortality rate alsoshowed progress with 154 deaths per 100,000births in 2020 as compared to 179 in the previousyear. However, other indicators such asincidence of tuberculosis and measlesimmunization decelerated, while life expectancyat birth and HIV prevalence remained same.

 


 

With the increasing economic pressure and lack of resources, healthcare system in Pakistan is deteriorated by disaster and also other unavoidable circumstance. Although during the last decades many improvements are made, there is tremendous fatality rate in Pakistan among infants and women.

 


 


There are various flaws[2], including as poor governance, a lack of access and unequal distribution of resources, a poor-quality Health Information Management System, corruption in the health system, a lack of monitoring in health policy and health planning, and a shortage of educated professionals.

 


 

The distance to health facilities, as well as a lack of transportation options with inadequate roads, limit their access to these services. Furthermore, it has been discovered that the public sector in Pakistan is underutilized due to a lack of human resources, a lack of health education, a lack of openness, and impediments due to linguistic and cultural differences.

 


 

To know the major challenges faced by health sector in Pakistan, reimaginghealthcare in Pakistan for establishing universal health coverage through strengthened primary healthcare is impossible without a properly educated, trained workforce in optimal numbers and appropriate mix, with equitable distribution. We are on a low ebb on all these counts. Abysmal health indicators and dubious distinctions are partly a result of the health workforce crises.

 


 

Riverside Development Organization (RDO) has been making efforts to provide quality health services after the devastating floods in Sindh since 2010 super floods through free medical camps. There have been awareness sessions on hygiene promotion and nutrition with women groups and also with students as well.

 


 


 

Strategic Objective: Ensure access to an integrated package of essential health services for the communities affected by prevailing poor living conditions, epidemic/pandemic and also communities affected by disasters.

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Target Indicators 

 


 

S. No

Major Interventions

Target / Indicators 

 


Mobile Health Clinics

  • Development of mobile health clinic vehicle
  • 50 mobile health clinic (10 per year)
  • Free medical camps will be in emergency situations
  • Establishment of basic health dispensary at RDO operational office 



HIV/AIDs

  • Scanning of transgender on annual basis in targets
  • Health services for HIV/AID positive service
  • Health & hygiene awareness for transgender
  • IEC material in local languages



Malnutrition

  • Screening of malnutrition of child & women
  • Referral to the Government hospitals
  • Provision of nutrition kits of child, Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLWs)
  • IEC material in local language



Awareness Raising

  • Health related awareness among communities
  • IEC material for seasonal & chronic diseases


 


 
   


[1]https://www.finance.gov.pk/survey/chapters_23/11_Health.pdf

[2]https://www.marham.pk/healthblog/major-challenges-faced-by-health-sector-in-pakistan/