Conflict-hit region: experts for evolving strategy to ensure better health facilities

Health experts at workshop on "Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare in crisis situation" have called for evolving strategy for provision of better healthcare facilities to expecting women and new-born child in conflict and disaster hit region.
They stressed that the government line-agencies, particularly Provincial Disaster Management Authority, to develop a Standard Operating Procedure under its contingency plan to ensure timely health facilities to women during pregnancy in conflict stricken and far-flung districts of the province.
The two-day workshop on Minimum Initial Services Package (MISP) for Sexual Reproductive Health in Crisis" held under auspices of Rahnuma-FPAP, a non-government organisation in collaboration with UNFPA at a local hotel. Notable speakers were included Gohar Zaman, Regional Director, Rahnuma-Family Planning Association of Pakistan (FPAP), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Tauqeer Mustafa, the organisation Programme Manager (Health), Lubna Tajik, Provincial Co-ordinator Officer, UNFPA, Dr Nabeela Dar, Quality Assurance Doctors, FPAP, and Dr Roshana. A total of 23 officials of health department, representatives of non-governmental organisation and donor agencies were participated.
In the opening session, Gohar Zaman explained the participants about his organisation operational activities and advocacy services for provision of better healthcare facilities. Lubna Tajik, in her presentation on Maternal and New-born Health in pre and post crisis situation, she referred a global study, indicated that the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age, nearly 536,000 globally due to displacement situation.
According to the study, he said that a number of causes of maternal death world-wide, including haemorrhage, obstruction, sepsis, eclampsia and unsafe abortion. Ms Tajik informed that the decision to seek care, reaching health facility, and receiving appropriate treatment could be prevented high complication of delivery new-born children and reduce the ratio of women mortality and morbility.
She suggested that a referral mechanism must be adopted to overcome with pre-and post maternal and neonatal healthcare issues in far-flung areas due to troubled conditions. She referred the study said that around 50 per cent of maternal death were occurred after delivery, while same per cent new-born deaths happened in the first 24 hours. Tauqeer Mustafa, while giving presentation on Minimal Initial Services Package (MISP), stressed the need for provision all pre-requisite medical facilities to expecting women and new-born children in order to reduce risk of morality, morbility and sexual violence in crisis situation.
He suggested that the Provincial Disaster Management should develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) under its contingency plan for disaster-hit areas, to ensure better maternal and neonatal healthcare facilities. Other health experts, including Dr Nabeela Dar, Dr Roshana, in their presentations highlighted the gap in better health services delivery to women and new-born children during the conflict-stricken region. They said the MISP for reproductive health is a set priority activities to be implemented during disaster and conflict situation. The participants of workshop also stressed the need for provision of healthcare facilities to mother and new-born child in during conflict and natural disaster affected region in the province.