October 17, 2003	Friday	Sha'aban 20, 1424

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PESHAWAR, Oct 16: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has urged proper health care measures to bring down high mortality rate among children and women.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony of a two-day workshop entitled “Mother and Child Health” arranged by the National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF) at the Pakistan Academy of Rural Development here on Wednesday, Dr Olivier Brasseur, the Representative of the UNFPA, said that efforts were needed to put brakes on the high morality rate among women and children.

He said that about 65 pregnant women died daily from pregnancy-related complications because of lack of health care facilities and the poor hygienic conditions.

He said the UNFPA was ready to devise a strategy in collaboration with the NWFP government to improve the mother and child health scenario in the province.

He said the UNFPA was willing to cooperate with the NWFP government in helping health workers in visiting the homes of those women who did not visit health facilities due to social taboos.

The UN population agency, he said, was also ready to form family-friendly population facilities under which medicines and health care facilities could be extended to women.

Earlier, NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani stressed the need for coordinated efforts to bring much-needed improvement in the health delivery network. He deplored the non-availability of health care services in the province, saying that the MMA-led government was making strenuous efforts to improve the situation.

The government, he said, had allocated huge amount for the upgradation of the district and tehsil headquarters hospitals to provide better health facilities to the people of rural areas.

Mr Durrani assured the international donor agencies of fullest cooperation in the execution of projects in line with local culture and traditions.

NRDF chief coordinator Tehseenullah Khan said that his organization was willing to work in collaboration with the government and the donor organization for the sake of betterment in society.

He said the NRDF had been working in many areas aimed at bringing positive changes to society.