Every year, 432,000 children under-five die in Pakistan, over two thirds of whom die within their first month of life. Access to health care varies dramatically; the risk of a newborn baby from one of the poorest families dying (63 per 1,000) is almost double the rate from the richest families (38 per 1,000).
Two thuds of the population live in rural areas where neonatal morality is twice as high as in urban areas. Just 1% of government spending was allocated for healthcare in 2009, whilst the country’s private healthcare system is beyond the reach of the majority of Pakistani families.
A typical district with health infrastructure in rural Pakistan comprises of basic health units, rural health centres and a referral hospital. In rural settings, staffing levels are inadequate and referral system function poorly 70% of births take place inside the home as basic health units are closed after 2pm and many lack trained medical staff.
The project was interrupted between years one and two due to the devastating flooding that affected thousands of families in Sindh province in 2010.
Through our advocacy activities, we anticipated that district level authorities would replicate activities profiled by our work, reaching a further estimated 203,848 women of reproductive age, 145,606 children under the age of five and 400 Female Health Workers.
We planned to achieve this through three objectives:
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Seven-month-old Ameer had pneumonia and was severely malnourished. His mother Samina took him to a nearby health centre where Save the Children staff examined him and gave the family high-energy peanut paste and vital medicines. Within 14 days, Ameer recovered.
Training over 200 Traditional Health Attendants and Community Health Workers and providing refresher training throughout the project.
Providing training for Female Health Workers who gave on-going care to over 2,800 babies and mothers during the first month after birth.
Surpassing our target of increasing the skills and knowledge of 20 facility-based health staff. The training covered a range of topics, including: counselling skills; antenatal care; and the causes of (and precautionary measures around) vaginal bleeding.
Distributing 3,527 clean delivery kits to Traditional Health Attendants and Female Health Workers in the district. These will help provide a clean, safe environment in which mothers can give birth.
Providing essential emergency drugs and equipment to five health facilities in the district
Supporting women's support groups and Village Health Committees who in turn, reached over 10,000 people each year with messages around positive health.
Producing a range of local language materials to promote health practices in the district.
Engaging key stakeholders at various levels (both from government and other organisations) with the project
Gulnaz lives in the village of Khan Banglani, which is situated in the west of Umerkot. Gulnaz gave birth to a premature baby, Zamin Ali, who, at the time of birth, was dangerously underweight, weighing less than albs.
Thankfully, because of your project, Female Health Worker Farzana visited mother and baby on a regular basis and gave life-saving advice on how to care for a Zamin.
Fazana advised Gulnaz on breast feeding, keeping the baby warm, delayed bathing and skin-to-skin contact. Zamin is now slowly gaining weight and his mother is delighted with progress.