The health of the nation has never been a priority of our governments. We have no healthcare structure. The whole system is based on ad hocism and short-term planning, this was stated in a 'Health of Women in Pakistan' annual report - 2007 issued at a press conference on Thursday (August 16) at PMA House.
The first ever annual report prepared by Shershah Syed, President, Society of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists of Pakistan (SOGP), Secretary Ayesha Nasir and Finance Secretary Dr Nighat Shah.
The data collected from UNDP Human Development Report 2006, Pakistan Millennium Development Goal Report 2005, Human Development in South Asia 2004, Health Situation in South East Asia Region and World Development Report 2003-04.
The health annual report strives to prove that the health had never been considered an important issue of women because of social attitudes. Our socidal system is based on gender inequality that is policies for the wellbeing of women are avoided.
"Three women lose their lives every hour because of pregnancy associated complications. More than 30,000 young women die every year in the country, which gives a maternal mortality rate of 340/100,000 pregnancies", disclosed the report.
"A total of 375,000 women suffer every year from pregnancy related complications. Vesico-vaginal Fistula (VVF), Recto-vaginal Fistula (RVF), Depression, Chronic Pelvic Pain, Loss of Uterus, Infertility and Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases are the major complications being faced by the women. Interestingly, all these are preventable so, there is no reason of such high mortality rate".
Shershah said that more than 80 percent women give birth at home in the presence of unskilled attendants. In majority of secondary and tertiary healthcare centres, emergency obstetrical care (EmOC) is not available on 24-hour basis.
"All over the country villages are without proper road network. People living in remote areas have no access to centres equipped with EmOC. Majority of Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centers (RHCs) are not functional. Must of the private hospitals and maternity homes are expensive and are not providing proper obstetrical care to women as per international standards."
The girl infant mortality rate is higher than male infant child. The girl has limited opportunities in education field. A large number of girls are forced to marry without their consent.
He said that purpose of presenting the report is that the upcoming election campaign, so that the political parties could focus on the problems of women in their manifesto.
MENOPAUSAL WOMEN:
The majority of menopausal women have no access to healthcare. The rural and city slums face problems associated with osteoporosis, age related diseases. They are victims of quackery as they receive unscientific treatment from daies and quacks.
CANCER OF WOMEN:
Breast, cervical and ovarian cancers are the leading causes of women's death. There is no screening programme in the Health Department with very few surgeons available to deal with. Radiation therapy is available free of cost in government hospitals, which is already over crowded with patients. The overburdened staff is not able to provide quality treatment to every woman, the report added.
Unfortunately, the government has failed to proper utilise the funds it receive from donor agencies because lack of political will and non-understanding of existing healthcare system in the country, it reported.
The present government has taken some initiative to increase the status of women in the country, but the status of women is still not satisfactory and there is a need to take revolutionary steps in this regard.
TRAINING OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY (OBGY):
The OBGY training is very poor at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Traditionally, the male medical students are not interested in OBGY and system does not help them to understand the plight of women dying because of obstetrical reason.
The report said that the postgraduates are not competent and not able to safe and scientific obstetric and gynaecology practice. All medical students should know about maternal death, maternal morbidity and emergency obstetrical care.
A structural programme should be devised on national and provincial basis. The country needs at least 10,000 competent OBGY specialists, while 2,000 specialists hardly available, and majority of these specialists needs further training.
Country has no future with a large population of uneducated, unhealthy and battered women. The government and civil society should immediately join hands to rectify the present situation on urgent basis, SOGP urged.