PESHAWAR, Feb 26: Of every 1,000 live births in the NWFP, 79 children die because of lack of health care facilities, a survey report of the health services directorate has revealed.

The report said the government planned to provide better training opportunities and pay scales to the lady health workers. "They are required to inform the women about family planningmethods, contagious and water borne diseases and antenatal care," it said.

An official said women were reluctant to serve as lady health workers because of lackof facilities, tough working conditions and social restrictions.

The antenatal coverage by the LHVs at home was two per cent and 18 per cent of the pregnant women visited the health facilities, the report said. "It is difficult for the lady health visitors to visit homes ina conservative society. They identify the risky cases among the pregnant women and refer them to hospitals," a teacher at the Public Health School, Hayatabad Township, said.

The school's principal Dr Munir Akhtar said that after the completion of a two-year diploma in public health and midwifery, the health visitors were appointed at the basic health units in BPS-9.

"Most of them retire in BPS-12 after serving for 25 years or more and only the lucky ones get promoted to BPS-16, but they are burdened as they provide health facility in the catchment area of 10,000 of a BHU," he said. An LHV said the facilities of accommodation and security at the BHUs were unsatisfactory.

"They are not provided proper accommodation or transport to visit the homes and their salary is low while most of them are posted in the remote areas," she said. She said the students were also taught communication skills. There are 848 BHUs in the NWFP, whereas the number of LHVs is 929.