27 February 2005	Sunday	17 Muharram 1426

KARACHI, Feb 26: Sindh Chief Minister's Adviser on Health Faisal Malik has said that lady health workers and lady doctors can play very important role in containing maternal mortality and morbidity in remote areas of the province.

He was speaking at a day-long seminar on "Women Health Issues" held under the aegis of Women Health Project here on Saturday. Being women, the health care providers could better understand the problem of another woman hence they could create awareness regarding necessary pregnancy-related precautions, proper diet and improved health through simple techniques, he added.

The adviser mentioned that 80 per cent of the women health projects envisaged for Sindh, for current fiscal year, had been completed while the remaining 20 per cent would be accomplished within the same year.

He stressed upon the participants of the seminar to make adequate application of the knowledge attained during the day-long activity and make themselves available to the resource less women mainly settled in least developed areas ultimately preventing the avoidable deaths and complications, quite high in our part of the world.

Faisal Malik appreciated the performance of the Sindh Women Health Project which had also been acknowledged at the federal level. He said, "We as a nation have to provide a safe and healthy environment to our mothers and newborns."

In his presentation, Sindh Secretary Health Prof Naushad Sheikh said that one pregnant woman died in every 20 minutes which was a serious cause of concern. He said that revolutionary steps were being adopted in all health departments including women health segments with motive to ensure quality health care to all women.

Earlier, Pakistan Women Health Project Director Shaheen Masood discussed the measures adopted with regard to reproductive health in particular. She also explicitly mentioned the relevant issues adding that the seminar would provide an opportunity to experts and health care professionals to exchange their experiences helping the later update their information.

The seminar was also attended by Sindh Women Health Project Director Dr Sahib Jan, Additional Health Secretary (Development) Manzoor Memon besides professionals associated with the field of medicine.-APP