KARACHI, Dec 17: Anaemia, identified as the commonest health problem in women, is yet to be addressed adequately and about 80 per cent of women falling in the reproductive age group (15-45 years) suffer from varied levels of the disease.
This was observed by healthcare providers at a meeting held under the aegis of Pakistan Voluntary Health and Nutrition Association (PAVHNA), here on Tuesday.
They said that the situation appeared almost equally critical among the girls as young as 10.
Dr Aaila, associated with the North Karachi Adolescent Centre for Girls, mentioned of cases where thorough medical investigations of extremely anaemic girls consulted them fearing that they were suffering from TB.
Gender-based discrimination, with special reference to diet offered to these girls, is cited as major contributory factor towards the situation tend to be all the more serious as the tendency for early-age marriages continues to be rampantly practised, consequently leading to high maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the country.
The event was arranged to provide local media an opportunity to acquire first hand information about the problems faced by local adolescents (both boys and girls) with regard to their reproductive health, emotional and social needs.
The interaction highlighted vulnerability of local youth to a wide range of health-related complications owing to the lack of information regarding biological changes taking place on attaining puberty age.
The youth (aged between 15 and 21) belonging to youth centres, managed by the PAVHNA, SEWA and Ahsaas in North Karachi and Korangi, conveyed their concern through newsmen about the availability of heroin in their educational institutions and also in their residential areas.
They also referred to their susceptibility to sexual harassment at their work places (many of them had to give up education due to socio-economic conditions of their respective families) as well as on their way to educational institutions.
Dr Yasmin Sabih Kazi, Executive Director of the PAVHNA, in her welcome address underscored the need for better understanding with regard to the reproductive health of local youth aged between 10 and 24.
She also dispelled the impression that religion was a factor in foiling attempts to create awareness on women and reproductive health needs of youth.
Begum Qamar Aftab, Vice President of the association, described the issue ‘all the more pertinent’ as, she said, the youth in 15-23 years age group constituted more than half of the country’s total population.
“We need to have curriculum at school and college levels regarding development stages of human being with particular reference to biological changes experienced at 11/12 years of age,” she said.
Ms Rehana Rashdi, Project Coordinator of Adolescents Training Programme, said adolescents were also increasingly witnessed to be exposed to unprotected, unwanted physical promiscuity, unintended high risk pregnancy besides their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
The high adolescent or youth pregnancy, low literacy rate or low school enrolment and high school drop out rate, large number of street children, low girl status and esteem were also enumerated as some of the key characteristics of adolescent and youth of the country.
“The situation is further aggravated from the fact that the key stake-holder of the country are little sensitized about importance and due care with regard to reproductive health,” Dr Yaseem Kazi observed.
The association, which has conducted a study on “Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health — Exploration and Trends in Pakistan” is currently implementing a three year project for boys and girls in Karachi and Larkana with the support of the UNICEF. —APP
