SARGODHA, Nov 3: Pakistan Paediatrics Association (PPA) president Dr Sajid Maqbool says the infant mortality is on the rise at an alarming rate in the country.

He was speaking at the National Paediatrics Conference at the Jinnah Hall on Sunday. It was organized by the Sargodha chapter of the PPA with the collaboration of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA).

Dr Maqbool said that out of every 1,000 infants 90 die just after birth every year due to various complications and malnutrition. “This is an alarming situation.”

He said that prices of paediatric medicines were also extraordinary high in the country and beyond the reach of poor people.

He also highlighted various problems and complications that result in the death of the new-born babies. He urged the paediatricians to play their pivotal role in this regard.

He said that the PPA was holding such conferences to create awareness and to formulate policies to curtail infant mortality rate all over the country.

He said that the government has started construction of children’s hospitals in Lahore, Multan, Islamabad and NWFP.

He said that the PPA has suggested to the government to increase the budget for health care of children.

PPA’s Punjab president Prof Dr Tahir Masood presented thesis on TB and its treatment in Pakistan; Dr Nazeer Malik of the Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, read a paper on epilepsy and its treatment; paediatric surgeon Nasir Malik spoke on the consequences and treatment of heat on belly of the infant, Mayo Hospital surgeon Dr Afzal Sheikh on the sex anomaly and its cure after birth; Col Dr Nadeem Alam Zuberi (retired) on complications developed after treatment of malaria; Dr Umer Ali Hashmi on anaemia and malnutrition in children of rural areas and also suggested various steps for their proper treatment.

PPA’s Sargodha president Dr Umar Hayat Butcha and co-ordinator Dr Sarwar Chaudhry highlighted various problems of infants by showing slides about some diseases and the treatment of children in the US, the UK, Pakistan and other Saarc countries. They also thanked the PPA central leadership for holding the conference at Sargodha.

PMA’s Sargodha general secretary Dr Sikandar Hayat appreciated the efforts of PPA for taking step to curtail child mortality rate. Various multinational pharmaceutical companies had also set up their stalls near the conference site.

Tight security arrangements were made by police and except invited people no one was allowed to even enter in Company Bagh.