KARACHI, Oct 30: Citing safe pregnancy and careful delivery of a baby as the basic right of every woman, experts have demanded provision for round-the-clock emergency maternity and obstetric care (EMOC) facilities at all primary to tertiary level healthcare outlets in the country.

The experts, reminding that 30 women died per minute in the country due to child birth complications with a much larger number even getting disabled due to non-availability of timely and quality medical intervention, mentioned that only five per cent of local healthcare facilities had provision for EMOC, while fewer than one per cent of Pakistani women could ever avail the facilities.

They stated that one-fourth of all maternal deaths were found to be of those women who despite reaching a healthcare outlet could not be attended due to absence of trained personnel, besides non-availability of required gadgets and relevant material support.

Referring to rampant apathy in society towards the issue at almost all levels, a recent instance was also cited where even in a city like Karachi a public sector maternal healthcare centre was found to be abandoned by its own staffers and thus giving a spectral impression.

With regard to impact of violence on the expecting mothers, it was claimed that 15 per cent of all maternal deaths were due to violence these women were exposed to. Experts regretted that somehow and very often the fact was ignored by the medical community itself.—APP