Gilgit—Maternal mortality remains mostly high all across the developing world and the remotest regions like Qurumbar Valley of Ghizar District of Gilgit-Baltistan even do not make up to the statistics marts— here, illiteracy, social norms and taboos leave mothers unreceptive even to the basic maternity health information. As a result, mothers and their new born babies fall victim of complex diseases.
To cater the need, Pakistan Wetlands Programme-Northern Alpine Wetlands Complex, Gilgit-Baltistan with the assistance of Qurumbar Social Welfare Conservation and Development Organization (QSWCD), facilitated a two-day field training session on “Mother Child Health Care” for selected female trainees of Qurumbar valley of Ghizar District. The purpose of the training session was to engage the select womenfolk in an open discussion about the critical health issues that concern the mothers and their new born babies.
The training session was conducted at Imit village in (LSO office) of Qurumbar valley. More than 30 female trainees attended the session. The prevailing health issues were discussed in detail and the participants shared critical information and learning about motherhood preparedness.
Facilitators engaged the trainees in a participatory learning process about prenatal and postnatal care standards, balance nutrition during pregnancy, safe delivery preparation, complicated pregnancy symptoms, reproductive health problems, family planning, immunization, importance of breast feeding and proper breast feeding techniques. All the participants actively participated in the group discussions, brainstorming sessions and presentations. Training evaluation was carried out before and after the session to gauge the level of knowledge and the impact of the training.
Qurumbar valley is in a dire need of basic health facilities, especially family health units. A health center, run by Aga Khan Health Services,Pakistan (AGHSP),currently, does provide maternity services in Imit Valley but it hardly covers the entire population of the Qurumbar Valley. There is a 10-bed civil hospital in the area but the local community complains that the hospital is operating without doctors.
It is relevant to note that a World Health Organization (WHO) fact-sheet claims that very day, approximately 1000 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. In 2008 alone, 358 000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth. Almost all of these deaths occurred in developing countries, and most could have been prevented.
Sources: Dartistan Times
